The impact of social comparisons on motivation

Overall, the impact of social comparisons on motivation will be influenced by the degree of fit among the direction of the comparison, an individual's regulatory focus and culture, and the nature of the behavior change involved. Upward comparisons are most likely to be motivating among individuals with strong chronic or temporarily activated promotion orientations, and among individuals from cultures that emphasize promotion concerns. Such comparisons, moreover, will be preferred by individuals who are attempting to harness their motivation to make additive behavior changes. Downward comparisons, in contrast, are most likely to be motivating among individuals with strong chronic or temporarily activated prevention orientations, and may be especially effective among individuals from cultures that emphasize prevention concerns. Such comparisons, moreover will be preferred by individuals who are attempting to boost their motivation' to make subtractive behavior changes.