Table I.
Multiple planned contrasts were conducted to examine the emotional consequences of relative loss vs. relative gain
| Relative Loss –Relative Gain | Relative Gain | Relative Loss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| I currently feel joy | P < 0.003 | M = 3.1646 | M = 2.6789 |
| SD = 1.19584 | SD = 1.10720 | ||
| I currently feel envy | P < 0.003 | M = 1.8232 | M = 2.5549 |
| SD = 0.88431 | SD = 1.19991 | ||
| I currently feel schadenfreude | P < 0.003 | M = 2.3049 | M = 1.4085 |
| SD = 1.23049 | SD = 0.64356 | ||
| I currently feel sadness | P < 0.003 | M = 2.1890 | M = 2.6199 |
| SD = 1.13438 | SD = 1.26629 | ||
| I feel less good when I compare myself to the other | P < 0.003 | M = 2.6829 | M = 3.7825 |
| SD = 1.15924 | SD = 1.36370 | ||
| I currently feel inferiority | P < 0.003 | M = 1.7744 | M = 2.3354 |
| SD = 0.95820 | SD = 1.20033 | ||
| I currently feel lucky | P < 0.003 | M = 2.7378 | M = 2.252 |
| SD = 1.37153 | SD = 0.96905 | ||
| I currently feel superiority | P < 0.003 | M = 2.1890 | M = 1.5935 |
| SD = 1.13438 | SD = 0.68140 | ||
| I currently feel resentment | P < 0.003 | M = 1.8841 | M = 2.3313 |
| SD = 1.08843 | SD = 1.28702 | ||
| I am pleased by how things have turned out for the other participant | n.s | M = 3.0671 | M = 2.5264 |
| SD = 1.15654 | SD = 1.06547 | ||
| I would like to be in the other player's shoes | P < 0.003 | M = 2.0061 | M = 2.9329 |
| SD = 1.04206 | SD = 1.40809 | ||
| I currently feel relief | P < 0.003 | M = 2.8598 | M = 2.1565 |
| SD = 1.09979 | SD = 0.74633 | ||
| What happened to the other gives me satisfaction | P < 0.003 | M = 2.6463 | M = 1.9228 |
| SD = 1.14697 | SD = 0.58760 | ||
| Color‐related questionsa | n.s | M = 4.4654 | M = 4.436 |
| SD = 0.81217 | SD = 0.80621 |
Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons was used.
a
Four color‐related questions appeared to conceal the purpose of the task (e.g., “I prefer blue over other colors” and “Pink color calms me.”).