Sentence examples for upward comparison from inspiring English sources

"Upward comparison can be punishing and make you feel terrible," she said.

I objectively know that my own life is pretty good, but this upward comparison, as economists and psychologists call it, can somehow dim my own accomplishments.

Upward comparison with members of an in-group can be both enhancing and threatening to self-esteem (Brewer & Weber, 1994).

Arroyo (2014) surveyed 201 college women to see what effect weight discrepancy, upward comparison, and objectified body consciousness had on fat talk; a mediating variable of body dissatisfaction was investigated.

Envy, which is an affective manifestation of lowered self-evaluation, may act as a kind of negative state reacting to falling short of others in attaining desirable outcomes following unfavorable upward comparison (Schaubroeck & Lam, 2004; Kim & Glomb, 2014).

When we compare ourselves to others who we believe to be better than ourselves (upward comparison) on this variable (say, for example, thinner or more attractive), we may feel worse about ourselves and engage in both non-risky and risky behaviors such as extreme weight control to try to meet those expectations (Ridolfi et al. 2011; Rudd & Lennon 1994).

Negative mood led to less exposure to upward comparisons and more to downward comparisons than positive mood.

Profiles varied in a 2 × 2 within-subjects design along two dimensions, ratings of career success and attractiveness, allowing for upward comparisons (high ratings) and downward comparisons (low ratings).

The article also states these upward comparisons are more likely to lead to depressive moods.

According to the article, women are drawn to social media, which inevitably leads to upward comparisons, which occur "when an individual compares himself or herself to someone who fares better than they do on a particular construct".

Upward comparisons are motivated by self improvement (improving one's own abilities) which aims at enhancing social status [21], while the opportunity to compare with a less fortunate other enhances subjective well-being [22], [23].