AFFECTIVE RESPONSES TO SOCIAL-COMPARISON - A STUDY AMONG DISABLED INDIVIDUALS

The present study examined the effects of social comparison among 112 individuals receiving payments under the Disablement Insurance Act. A part of a fictitious interview with another disabled person was presen ted to the subjects. This interview contained upward or downward socia l comparison information about either the problem severity or coping s uccess of a target. In line with the predictions, the results indicate d that upward comparison generated more positive affect than downward comparison only for subjects high in perceived control. Downward compa rison generated more negative affect chan upward comparison, regardles s of perceived control. The nature of the comparison dimension (proble m severity versus coping success) did not result in differences in pos itive or negative affect. Furthermore, subjects high in control identi fied more strongly with the upward target than with the downward targe t, especially when the comparison dimension was coping success. Some e vidence was found that the effect of perceived control on the positive affective consequences of upward comparison was mediated by identific ation with the upward target.