"An upward comparison is one in which the comparison standard is better off than the comparer, and a downward comparison is with a standard who is worse off... the comparer’s self-evaluation moves toward the comparison standard, becoming more positive after an upward comparison and more negative after a downward comparison" (Gerber et al., 2018, p. 178)
Gerber, J. P., Wheeler, L., & Suls, J. (2018). A social comparison theory meta-analysis 60+ years on. Psychological bulletin, 144(2), 177-197. DOI:10.1037/bul0000127
Brief quotations are reproduced for identification purposes under fair use / fair dealing doctrine
Festinger, L. (1954). A theory of social comparison processes. *Human Relations*, 7(2), 117–140. <https://doi.org/10.1177/001872675400700202>
[downward comparison]
Wills, T. A. (1981). Downward comparison principles in social psychology. *Psychological Bulletin*, *90*, 245–271. <http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.90.2.245>
[upward comparison]
Collins, R. L. (1996). For better or worse: The impact of upward social comparisons on self-evaluations. *Psychological Bulletin*, *119*, 51– 69. <http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.119.1.51>