![]() At the core of the proposed theory is a functional approach to construal levels, according to which mental construal processes serve to traverse psychological distances and switch between proximal and distal perspectives on objects. Going beyond this earlier theory, we now treat temporal construal theory as a special case of a general theory of psychological distance. The present article builds upon our earlier work on temporal construal theory, which focused in particular on the way that temporal distance from future events influences representation and judgment ( Liberman & Trope, 1998 Trope & Liberman, 2003). The different distances should also similarly influence prediction, evaluation, and action, inasmuch as these outcomes are mediated by construal. Construal levels thus expand and contract one’s mental horizon. As psychological distance increases, construals would become more abstract, and as level of abstraction increases, so too would the psychological distances people envisage. Because the various distances have the same egocentric reference point, they should all be cognitively related to each other and similarly affect and be affected by level of construal. ![]() ![]() Psychological distance is thus egocentric: Its reference point is the self, here and now, and the different ways in which an object might be removed from that point-in time, space, social distance, and hypotheticality-constitute different distance dimensions.Īccording to CLT, then, people traverse different psychological distances by using similar mental construal processes. Psychological distance is a subjective experience that something is close or far away from the self, here, and now. They serve to transcend the immediate situation and represent psychologically distant objects. Predictions, memories, and speculations are all mental constructions, distinct from direct experience. Thus, although we cannot experience what is not present, we can make predictions about the future, remember the past, imagine other people’s reactions, and speculate about what might have been. How do we transcend the here and now to include distal entities? How do we plan for the distant future, understand other people’s point of view, and take into account hypothetical alternatives to reality? Construal level theory (CLT) proposes that we do so by forming abstract mental construals of distal objects. And yet, memories, plans, predictions, hopes, and counterfactual alternatives populate our minds, influence our emotions, and guide our choice and action. It is impossible to experience the past and the future, other places, other people, and alternatives to reality. People directly experience only the here and now. Supporting this analysis, research shows (a) that the various distances are cognitively related to each other, (b) that they similarly influence and are influenced by level of mental construal, and (c) that they similarly affect prediction, preference, and action. Transcending the self in the here and now entails mental construal, and the farther removed an object is from direct experience, the higher (more abstract) the level of construal of that object. Psychological distance is egocentric: Its reference point is the self in the here and now, and the different ways in which an object might be removed from that point-in time, in space, in social distance, and in hypotheticality-constitute different distance dimensions. Without denying the uniqueness of each process, it is proposed that they constitute different forms of traversing psychological distance. Clean your desk at the end of every day.Ĭhoose a time to tidy your desk and do it! If you do it every day, it will only take five minutes and you can start each new day with a clean and tidy space.People are capable of thinking about the future, the past, remote locations, another person’s perspective, and counterfactual alternatives. Check it every day and throw old notes in the bin. If you really do need to keep small bits of paper, use a noticeboard on the wall. Use your smartphone to take photos of things you need to remember.įor example, take photos of notes to yourself, the name and address of a place you need to visit or diagrams you need to study for school. If you have a lot of paper (magazine articles, notes, worksheets, etc.), use a scanner and keep a digital version as a PDF on your computer. Before printing a document, ask yourself, ‘do I really need to read this on paper?’ 4. Try to keep as much information as possible in folders on your computer. Go to the kitchen when you want to have a drink or, if you prefer, keep a drink on a small table near your desk. Have a jar for pens and pencils and have a bin near your desk. Use a tray for any papers you have to read. Only keep things you really need on and near your desk.
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