Defensive Distancing from Victims of Serious Illness: The Role of Delay

Abstract

Defensive distancing from victims of serious illness was investigated by providing subjects with personality profiles of a target person who had either a serious life-threatening illness (stomach cancer) or a less serious health problem (sprained ankle). Either immediately after learning of the target person's illness or after a 3-min delay, subjects rated themselves on the same set of personality traits. A significant Illness x Delay interaction was found on a composite measure of distancing from the victim. Subjects distanced themselves from the cancer victim by rating their own personalities as discrepant from this person in the delay but not in the immediate condition. Immediate but not delay subjects indicated greater liking for the cancer victim than the sprained ankle victim. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.