Open AccessBecoming stranger: When future selves join the out-group.
Author(s) -
Bethany Burum,
Daniel T. Gilbert,
Timothy D. Wilson
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of experimental psychology. general
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.521
H-Index - 161
eISSN - 1939-2222
pISSN - 0096-3445
DOI - 10.1037/xge0000193
Subject(s) - psycinfo , join (topology) , psychology , interpersonal communication , social psychology , task (project management) , interpersonal relationship , sacrifice , group (periodic table) , medline , law , political science , chemistry , mathematics , archaeology , organic chemistry , combinatorics , history , management , economics
One of the most powerful rules of interpersonal behavior is that people are kinder to members of their in-groups than to members of their out-groups. Are people also kinder to their future selves when they expect them to remain members of their current in-groups rather than become members of their current out-groups? In 2 studies, participants in an emotionally charged debate expected either to remain on the same team or to join the opposing team when they returned the following week. Those who expected to join the opposing team were less willing to sacrifice for their future selves, leaving more of an unpleasant task for their future selves to finish and treating their future selves as unkindly as they treated a stranger. These results suggest that the rules that govern interpersonal behavior may also govern intertemporal behavior, and suggest new strategies to encourage prudent decisions. (PsycINFO Database Record