In his influential paper on downward comparison theory, Wills (1981) offers a theoretical analysis of the cognitive mechanisms people may use for coping with stressful events and circumstances, and assumed that the need for self-enhancement would be stronger when people experience some kind of threat to their subjective well-being. Wills (1987) discussed various cognitive mechanisms aimed at achieving downward comparison that mainly overlapped with the cognitive strategies suggested in the selective evaluation model proposed by Taylor et al. (1983).

First of all, Wills (1987) proposed strict downward comparison with a target who is obviously worse off than the self as a coping mechanism. According to Wills (1981), this can be a passive process, in which individuals encounter inferior comparison targets with whom they can achieve downward comparisons, for instance through TV shows or magazines. In addition, downward comparison can also be a process of active comparison in which individuals cognitively construct a downward comparison, or derogate others' good abilities and personal attributes. Such cognitive downward comparison processes enable people to obtain a relatively favorable evaluation of themselves and their situation.

Wills (1987) as well as Taylor et al. (1983) advanced various cognitive mechanisms of selective evaluation through which individuals who experience a decrease in subjective well-being may obtain a more favorable evaluation of their situation and though which they may restore their well-being. These strategies of selective evaluation, which people may use in concert, include: (1) making downward comparison with worse-off others (cf. Wills, 1981); (2) selectively focusing on attributes that make them appear advantaged (i.e., dimensional comparison; Taylor et al., 1983); (3) creating hypothetical worse worlds by comparing one's current situation with what could have happened; (4) construing benefit from the victimizing event; and (5) manufacturing normative standards against which victims can compare themselves in such a way that may make their own adjustment appear exceptional.

Although the strategies of downward comparisons, dimensional comparisons, and self-evaluation against comparative standards seem to involve social comparison activities, some researchers point out the possibility that these strategies may not necessarily involve truly social comparisons (cf. Buunk & Ybema, 1995; see also Wood, 1996, for more thorough discussions). Nevertheless, such strategies may also reflect the evaluation resulting from a cognitive process of constructing imaginary comparison others and comparison dimensions, aimed at making the perception of one's situation more acceptable.

A number of studies have provided evidence that individuals who experience some type of life stress may employ cognitive downward comparison as a coping strategy in order to improve the perception of their situation. For instance, in an interview study among breast cancer patients, Wood et al. (1985) clearly demonstrated that a majority of patients made downward comparisons, that is, they evaluated that their own adjustment to breast cancer was in some respects better than other women with breast cancer. Jensen and Karoly (1992) found that patients suffering from chronic pain showed a stronger tendency to use downward comparison and consequently experienced lower levels of depression.

In a sample of individuals covered by the Disablement Insurance Act, Buunk and Ybema (1995) found that people experiencing stress were more likely to engage in cognitive downward comparison, which positively affected individuals' evaluations of their situation one year later. On the basis of such findings, it can be argued that cognitive downward comparison might be an effective strategy for reducing the aversive consequences of relational discontent, and might thus result in a relatively more favorable evaluation of the relationship.

In research examining the effects of downward comparison, participants are usually provided with social comparison information (cf. Wood, 1989, 1996). Such studies, however, do not assess the active, cognitive downward comparison process that has been emphasized in the previous discussion. Therefore, to examine experimentally whether cognitive downward comparison improves perceived relationship quality, the current research employed a new paradigm that induced participants to actively engage in cognitive downward social comparison.