The impact of better‐ Versus worse‐than‐average comparisons on beliefs about how life satisfaction is unfolding over time, affect, and motivation

We investigated comparisons to the average other in shaping how individuals view their lives as unfolding over time, affective reactions, and motivation. Participants described their current life (Study 1; N = 382; M age = 30.01 years; 43% female) or their life as unfolding over time (Study 2; N = 451; M age = 30.89; 54% female) as either better (BTA) or worse (WTA) than the average person their age and gender (both studies included a “no...