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Cited by 3,006Decision-Making and Behavioral EconomicsPsychological and Temporal Perspectives ResearchBehavioral Health and Interventions

Temporal construal.

Trope, Yaacov, Liberman, Nira·2003·Psychological Review
DOI 10.1037/0033-295x.110.3.403
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Abstract

Construal level theory proposes that temporal distance changes people's responses to future events by changing the way people mentally represent those events. The greater the temporal distance, the more likely are events to be represented in terms of a few abstract features that convey the perceived essence of the events (high-level construals) rather than in terms of more concrete and incidental details of the events (low-level construals). The informational and evaluative implications of high-level construals, compared with those of low-level construals, should therefore have more impact on responses to distant-future events than near-future events. This article explores the implications of construal level theory for temporal changes in evaluation, prediction, and choice. The authors suggest that construal level underlies a broad range of evaluative and behavioral consequences of psychological distance from events.

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  • Researchers have highlighted the impact of people's psychological distance from their outcomes and goals on decision making and behavior.

    “Researchers have also highlighted the impact of people's psychological distance from their outcomes and goals on decision making and behavior (Lewin 1951; Trope and Liberman 2003).”

    From The Goal-Gradient Hypothesis Resurrected: Purchase Acceleration, Illusionary Goal Progress, and Customer Retention (2006) · cites this paper as Trope and Liberman 2003

  • Construal level theory proposes that temporal distance alters people's responses to future events by systematically changing the way people mentally represent those events.

    “Construal level theory (CLT) proposes that temporal distance alters people’s responses to future events by systematically changing the way people mentally represent those events (Trope & Liberman, 2003).”

    From Behavioral trainings and manipulations to reduce delay discounting: A systematic review (2019) · cites this paper as Trope & Liberman, 2003

  • When temporal distances are larger, events are more likely to be represented in abstract terms that capture their central features (high-level construals) than in more concrete and incidental terms (low-level construals).

    “When temporal distances are larger, events are more likely to be represented in abstract terms that capture their central features (high-level construals) than in more concrete and incidental terms (low-level construals).”

    From Behavioral trainings and manipulations to reduce delay discounting: A systematic review (2019) · cites this paper as Trope & Liberman, 2003

  • Some theoretical models of discounting hypothesize that delayed outcomes are less concrete or less vivid than immediate outcomes, and therefore individuals tend to prefer immediate outcomes over delayed ones.

    “Some theoretical models of discounting hypothesize that delayed outcomes are less concrete or less vivid than immediate outcomes, and therefore individuals tend to prefer immediate outcomes over delayed ones (Rick & Loewenstein, 2008; Trope & Liberman, 2003).”

    From Behavioral trainings and manipulations to reduce delay discounting: A systematic review (2019) · cites this paper as Trope & Liberman, 2003

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Authors
Trope, Y., & Liberman, N.
ORCID
Liberman, Nira
Venue
Psychological Review
Publisher
American Psychological Association (APA)
Published
2003
Volume
110
Issue
3
Pages
403-421
ISSN
  • 0033-295X (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-1471
DOI
10.1037/0033-295x.110.3.403
OpenAlex
W4230957748
Cited by
3,006
References
126
Citations by year
2026: 137 · 2025: 192 · 2024: 160 · 2023: 172 · 2022: 183 · 2021: 204 · 2020: 193 · 2019: 187 · 2018: 154 · 2017: 150 · 2016: 161 · 2015: 160 · 2014: 143 · 2013: 122 · 2012: 160
FWCI
1.51
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Psychological Review (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (1 R01 MH59030-01A1, R01MH059030)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › General Decision Sciences › Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Psychological and Temporal Perspectives Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Behavioral Health and Interventions
Keywords
construal level theory, temporal construal, psychological distance, temporal distance, high-level construal, evaluation, prediction, choice, future events
MeSH terms
Cognition, Decision Making, Forecasting, Humans, Models, Psychological, Time Factors, Time Perception

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