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The focus effect and self‐positivity in ratings of self‐other similarity and difference
Author(s) -
Pahl Sabine,
Eiser J. Richard
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
british journal of social psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.855
H-Index - 98
eISSN - 2044-8309
pISSN - 0144-6665
DOI - 10.1348/014466605x49582
Subject(s) - optimal distinctiveness theory , psychology , focus (optics) , similarity (geometry) , self , social psychology , self concept , developmental psychology , computer science , physics , artificial intelligence , optics , image (mathematics)
We conducted 2 studies investigating comparative ratings of similarity or difference and the thoughts underlying these ratings. Participants compared either the self with others (self→other focus) or others with the self (other→self focus). People expressed higher distinctiveness under self→other focus than under other→self focus (focus effect) when rating difference in Studies 1 and 2, and when rating similarity in Study 1. Analyses of verbal reports showed that people mentioned the self more than others under self→other focus, but mentioned self and others to the same extent under other→self focus. Moreover, Study 2 showed that participants spontaneously made more positive statements for the self under self→other focus than under other→self focus. This effect was significantly mediated by the number of self‐references made. Implications for recent models of social judgment are discussed.