Publication: Cool, but understanding...experiencing cooler temperatures promotes perspective-taking performance
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KU-Authors
KU Authors
Co-Authors
Sassenrath, Claudia
Sassanberg, Kai
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Abstract
The current research examined the impact of temperature cues on perspective-taking. Individuals often start with their own point-of-view when taking another's perspective and thereby unintentionally project their own perspective onto others, which ultimately leads to egocentrically biased inferences of others' perspectives. Accordingly, perspective-taking is enhanced under conditions reducing this egocentric anchoring. In two studies, we show that perspective-taking is enhanced when participants are exposed to cooler rather than warmer temperature cues. Specifically, this is shown to be the case, because cooler temperatures reduce egocentric anchoring in perspective-taking (Study 2). Results are discussed with reference to the literature on (temperature) grounded cognition indicating a link between cold temperatures and social distance. Hence, whereas earlier research has shown that individuals feel more distant from each other when undergoing cooler thermal experiences, the present research suggests that this thermal experience prevents them from over-imputing their own perspectives onto others. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Source
Publisher
Elsevier
Subject
Psychology, Experimental
Citation
Has Part
Source
Acta Psychologica
Book Series Title
Edition
DOI
10.1016/j.actpsy.2013.03.011