Nature Communications (Jun 2016)

The social contingency of momentary subjective well-being

  • Robb B. Rutledge,
  • Archy O. de Berker,
  • Svenja Espenhahn,
  • Peter Dayan,
  • Raymond J. Dolan

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms11825
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7, no. 1
pp. 1 – 8

Abstract

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Comparing oneself to others is inherently human but exactly how social comparison affects one's emotional state is unclear. Here the authors demonstrate that unequal social outcomes decrease happiness and these emotional impacts are proportional to individual levels of generosity.