Social Comparison
People judge themselves by comparison when objective standards are missing; upward comparison motivates and stings, downward comforts, and whoever controls the reference group controls the feeling.
An everyday example
Feeling poor after a founders' dinner and rich after visiting family — same bank balance.
What it can cost you
Decisions made to change a comparison rather than a situation; sellers who choose your reference group for you.
Warning signs
- My satisfaction changed when the company changed.
- Someone showed me a peer right before the offer.
One thing to do
Choose the comparison deliberately: compare with your own past self and with a reference group you picked for a reason.
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