Social comparison theory states that our life satisfaction tends to be influenced not so much by what we have but by what we have in relation to others. That is, we look to see how others are living, such as whether they have shoes or have fewer aches and pains—and we judge ourselves in comparison. We are a social species, and we are attuned to fairness. If we see others who have things we don’t, like shoes or good health, we feel cheated. If no one we know has shoes or good health, we just think to ourselves, “That’s life.”
