Comparisons are made to protect ourselves from negative emotions by activating the ego as a defense mechanism. Downward comparisons are used as coping strategies to deal with feeling bad about oneself. Instead of focusing on making comparisons, the key is to address internal emotional states, especially negative emotions. For instance, in situations like going through a breakup, individuals may engage in excessive comparisons with their ex-partner's social media presence, which can be addictive and worsen self-esteem due to the ego seeking conformity.