Distance from a distance: psychological distance reduces sensitivity to any further psychological distance
Abstract
What is the difference between far and further? Investigations into such psychological distancing--removal from an egocentric reference point--have suggested similarities between geographical space, time, probability, and social distance. We draw on these similarities to propose that experiencing any kind of distance will reduce sensitivity to any other distance. Nine studies varied the initial distance of an event and assessed sensitivity to a second distance. Consistently, people were less responsive to a given span of distance when it was distal versus proximal. This effect held using each of the four distances as the initial instantiation of distance; it also held using each dimension to assess sensitivity to distance (i.e., as the second distance dimension). These findings suggest that the dimensions of psychological distance share a common, interchangeable meaning and that the cross-dimension difference between far and further is less than that between near and far.
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Individuals in higher power positions tend to feel more social distance between themselves and others than lower-power individuals.
“individuals in higher power positions tend to feel more social distance between themselves and others than lower-power individuals (Magee and Smith, 2013; Maglio et al., 2013; Tamir and Mitchell, 2011).”
From A map for social navigation in the human brain (2015) · cites this paper as Maglio et al., 2013
Previous studies have identified unique brain regions involved in processing different kinds of psychological distance.
“Previous studies have identified unique brain regions involved in processing different kinds of psychological distance (Addis and Schacter, 2008; Brosch and Sander, 2013; Maglio et al., 2013; Mason and Just, 2011; Muscatell et al., 2012; Parkinson et al., 2014; Tamir and Mitchell, 2011; Weiler et al., 2010).”
From A map for social navigation in the human brain (2015) · cites this paper as Maglio et al., 2013
Construal level theory predicts that subjective psychological distance is modified by changes in perceived distance across any number of physical and social dimensions.
“The construal level theory predicts that subjective psychological distance is modified by changes in perceived distance across any number of physical and social dimensions (Maglio et al., 2013; Tamir and Mitchell, 2011).”
From A map for social navigation in the human brain (2015) · cites this paper as Maglio et al., 2013
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- Authors
- Maglio, S. J., Trope, Y., & Liberman, N.
- Affiliations
- University of Toronto (CA)
- Tel Aviv University (IL)
- Venue
- Journal of Experimental Psychology General
- Published
- 2013
- Volume
- 142
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 644-657
- ISSN
- 0096-3445 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-2222
- OpenAlex
- W2018558021
- Cited by
- 157
- References
- 70
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 6.71
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Experimental Psychology General (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Science Foundation (BCS-1053128)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › General Decision Sciences › Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Language, Metaphor, and Cognition
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Psychological and Temporal Perspectives Research
- Keywords
- psychological distance, distance sensitivity, spatial distance, temporal distance, probability distance, social distance
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Decision Making, Distance Perception, Female, Humans, Judgment, Male, Psychological Distance
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