A field study investigated the role of social comparison processes in mitigating stress associated with the threat of urban floods. Among residents of a major flood plain, extensive social comparison was associated with significantly greater levels of calm, confidence, and commitment to adaptive solutions, but only among persons who had not previously been flooded. Among previously flooded respondents, extensive social comparison was significantly related to heightened fear and feelings of desperation. Discussion focuses on the generalizability of social comparison predictions to the natural environment.
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