Making comparisons serves two main purposes: upward comparisons help us learn techniques to improve our lives, while downward comparisons act as an emotional coping strategy by making us feel better about ourselves. However, these comparisons can become detrimental when taken to the extreme. Upward comparisons can lead to a loss of motivation when we feel inadequate compared to others, while downward comparisons can create a vicious cycle of negative self-perception. Both types of comparisons can be counterproductive when they overshadow the original intention of learning and coping.