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Psychological distance asymmetry: The spatial dimension vs. other dimensions
Author(s) -
Zhang Meng,
Wang Jing
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of consumer psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.433
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1532-7663
pISSN - 1057-7408
DOI - 10.1016/j.jcps.2009.05.001
Subject(s) - dimension (graph theory) , priming (agriculture) , psychology , asymmetry , hofstede's cultural dimensions theory , construal level theory , social distance , social psychology , cognitive psychology , mathematics , combinatorics , physics , medicine , botany , germination , disease , covid-19 , quantum mechanics , pathology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , biology
Abstract In this research we demonstrate an asymmetry between the spatial dimension and the other three dimensions of psychological distance—i.e., the temporal, social, and hypothetical dimensions. The first study shows that a distal prime along the spatial dimension leads to greater perceived distance along the other three dimensions, but not the other way around. We theorize that this is because people understand temporal, social, and hypothetical distance in terms of spatial distance. Hence, symmetric priming effects should occur when similarities between the spatial dimension and other dimensions are highlighted. Indeed, the last three studies, using multiple operationalizations, show that such priming effects could become symmetric when people engage in relational processing.