Impact Of Psychological Distance Research Articles

The Impact of Psychological Distance on Consumer’s Online Decision Making and Online Shopping Addiction among Chinese College Students

This study takes the problem of online shopping addiction as the research object, and discusses the influence of psychological distance and online decision-making and online shopping addiction.In the research design part, college students with online shopping experience and impulsive or compulsive purchasing behavior are taken as samples to explore the relationship between online shopping addiction and psychological distance, and the relationship between online shopping addiction and network decision-making, and relevant hypotheses are proposed and a detailed research model is constructed.Through the investigation and data analysis of online shopping addicts, experimental research, and empirical analysis. Based on descriptive statistical analysis and empirical test of the effects of psychological distance on online shopping addiction and network.decision-making on online shopping addiction, statistical methods such as t test, variance analysis of variance and structural equation model were used to dig the sample data in depth. An intervention study was conducted to determine the influence of psychological distance and network decision-making on online shopping addiction.

Impact of psychological distance on public acceptance of waste-to-energy combustion projects

Waste-to-energy (WTE) projects have attracted considerable attention due to their role in addressing waste management issues and promoting renewable energy production. However, while public acceptance of these projects remains controversial, psychological distance (PD) may be a key shaping factor in their construction. This study, grounded in the Construal Level Theory (CLT) and social distance theory of power, uses a behavioral investigation experiment to examine the role of PD in WTE facilities. The findings reveal that shorter PD is associated with higher public perception of risk and lower perception of economic benefits, fairness, and public acceptance. Additionally, a closer social distance of power tends to correspond with lower construal levels and a greater inclination to support the construction of WTE facilities, further supporting the CLT and social distance theory of power. The findings provide theoretical support and practical guidance for the sustainable development of WTE facilities, encouraging a sense of shared destiny and collaborative governance across society.

How to enhance consumers’ purchase intention in live commerce? An affordance perspective and the moderating role of age

Live commerce is a novel form of social commerce characterized by real-time interaction and synchronous visualization. Drawing upon affordance theory and the affective-cognitive framework, we propose a comprehensive research model that integrates three key dimensions of affordances of live commerce technology, namely utilitarian (visibility), social (social presence, interactivity, self-presentation), and hedonic affordances (entertainment), together with consumers’ cognitive and affective states (perceived diagnosticity and psychological distance). Furthermore, we explore age as an important contingency factor in understanding consumers’ purchase intention in live commerce. We collect data from 353 consumers who have live shopping experiences in China and analyze the research model with the structural equation model approach. Results indicate that visibility, social presence, and interactivity positively contribute to perceived diagnosticity, whereas entertainment and the three social affordances reduce psychological distance. Notably, the influence of perceived diagnosticity on purchase intention is more pronounced among older consumers, whereas the impact of psychological distance on purchase intention is stronger among younger consumers. This study not only advances the understanding of affordance theory within live commerce contexts but also offers practical insights for streamers and live commerce platforms.

Too anthropomorphized to keep distance: The role of social psychological distance on meat inclinations

Keeping a distance from food animals helps alleviate moral conflicts associated with meat consumption. Prior research on the ‘meat paradox’ has shown that physical distance from animals reduces negative emotional responses when consuming meat. However, even with physical distance, the presence of animals in meat advertisements and packaging can establish psychological contact. The impact of psychological distance on meat consumption and purchase inclinations has not been well explored. Through four experiments, we discovered that animal anthropomorphism psychologically brings consumers closer to food animals, resulting in reduced intentions to consume and purchase meat. Anthropomorphized animal images notably reduced social psychological distance for consumers with moderate to high (vs. lower) levels of anthropomorphic tendencies. Furthermore, the effect of anthropomorphism was influenced by moral self-efficacy. Specifically, when social psychological distance was reduced, consumers with higher (vs. lower) moral self-efficacy exhibited a significant decrease in their willingness to consume and purchase meat. These findings expand our understanding of the role of anthropomorphism in meat marketing, its limitations, and offer insights for sales strategies. Additionally, the research could inform public health policies on meat consumption, addressing environmental and ethical concerns tied to meat production amid growing worries about animal welfare.

The impact of psychological distance and fintech on Chinese farmers’ willingness to make financing choices

ABSTRACT Using data from China’s 2017 national household survey, we examine the effect of psychological distance on Chinese farmers’ willingness to make financing choices. Our empirical results show that psychological distance has a statistically significant impact on farmers’ choice of finance. A close psychological distance increases farmers’ willingness to choose financial institutions by activating low-level construal representation. Fintech plays an intermediary role. The psychological distance between farmers and financial institutions affects farmers’ financing choices and is mediated by fintech. Our study offers the micro-level proof of the relationship between psychological distance and Chinese farmers’ financing preferences.

Psychological Distance Impacts Subgroup Reciprocity in Technological Innovation Networks: The Mediating Role of Divisive Faultlines.

As information flows at ever-increasing speeds across technological innovation networks, it is crucial to optimize reciprocity among partnering enterprises. However, the impact of psychological distance on subgroup reciprocity in such networks has not yet been investigated. To address this gap, the current study drew on theories of faultlines and cohesive subgroups to model the relationship between psychological distance and subgroup reciprocity within technological innovation networks. Our hypotheses were tested using data from 174 respondents working in Yunnan Province, China. The results were as follows: first, psychological distance had negative effects on subgroup reciprocity in technological innovation networks; second, relationship-divisive and innovation-divisive faultlines negatively impacted reciprocity within and between subgroups; third, the faultlines partially mediated the negative relationship between psychological distance and intra-subgroup reciprocity; and fourth, the negative relationship between psychological distance and subgroup reciprocity was not mediated by the faultlines. The findings uncover the psychological mechanism of subgroup reciprocity within technological innovation networks. They will inform the decision-making process of enterprises when selecting partners within their technological innovation networks and support the development of effective reciprocal relationships with other innovators.

The Impact of Psychological Distance on Judging Satisfaction with Nuclear Energy Policy via Knowledge Calibration and an Integrated Causal Path Model

This study investigated how, through knowledge calibration and a causal path model, psychological distance can explain the level of satisfaction with nuclear energy policy. The investigation used multiple regression analysis and path analysis to explore relationships among variables. Data from 1056 adults revealed that more knowledge-calibrated individuals have more positive attitudes toward nuclear energy policy. In addition, the psychological distance influences policy satisfaction by mediation of perceived risk of nuclear energy. This study aimed to increase the understanding of the dynamic of satisfaction with and acceptance of nuclear energy policy among stakeholders. Thus, based on the construal level theory, the study addressed the importance of knowledge and psychological distance in explaining variation in satisfaction and acceptance about nuclear policy.

Do we always follow others? The impact of psychological distance on consumers’ observational learning modes

Purpose To investigate the psychological mechanism of observational learning in the online retailing context, the purpose of this paper is to show how the psychological distance between consumers and products affects modes of observational learning. Design/methodology/approach Five experimental studies are conducted to test the hypotheses. Findings The findings show that which modes of observational learning are adopted by consumers is affected by consumers’ psychological distance. Specifically, when the psychological distance between consumers and products is proximal, consumers tend to adopt the termed adequate observational learning mode by considering the interaction of information about popularity and the breadth of appeal of a product to make purchase. However, when the psychological distance is distal, consumers would consider information of popularity and breadth of appeal separately without considering the interaction, termed as inadequate observational learning mode. The observed relationship between psychological distance and observational learning mode could be explained by the construal level. Research limitations/implications This research advances the observational learning and psychological distance literature by investigating the psychological mechanism behind observational learning modes. Limitations include the use of scenario-based experiments to test the hypotheses, investigation of a single product attribute (i.e. breadth of appeal) and assessment of popularity information by sales volume alone. Practical implications The current research provides a deeper understanding of consumer observational learning modes, which can help online retailers to develop effective product strategies and marketing tactics and, finally, achieve stronger competitive positions. Originality/value The present research contributes to the literature by examining the psychological mechanism involved in observational learning. This research distinguishes adequate and inadequate observational learning modes from the perspective of psychological distance.

The impact of psychological distance on tourists’ length of stay: Survival analysis

This paper argues that LOS is a reflection of the distance between a tourist's origin and destination country. Past interpretations of distance have been based solely on spatial parameters. This study moves beyond physical distance and instead considers psychological distance, a multilayered construct. In this view, countries may be ‘‘distant’’ from one another in various ways; economic, social, cultural, religious, and political differences can cause problems for the tourism sector. This multidimensional definition of distance yields a more informative and comprehensive picture of the determinants of LOS. The results indicate that tourists' LOS in Iran increased alongside perceived cultural distance but that it is inversely related to perceived religious, social, economic, and politic distance. This demonstrates the importance of tailoring destination marketing and management efforts to improve promotional campaigns targeting market segments that are likely to stay longer. One way to work toward these aims is to reduce the perception of psychological distance.

Out of sight, out of cancellation: The impact of psychological distance on the cancellation behavior of tourists

Travel products such as package tours, Airtels, hotel rooms, and airline seats lose their value unless they are sold by a certain date. Therefore, predicting customer behavior allows travel companies to maximize their profits, minimize their loss of revenue by balancing supply and demand (e.g., determining an overbooking level), and wisely respond to pressures from the government and customer groups to lessen cancellation penalties. For this reason, it is important to investigate what cause people to cancel their travel plans after reservations have been made. Based on construal level theory (CLT), this study tries to identify the reasons for the cancellation behavior of customers in accordance with different types of psychological distance between travelers and their travel or reservation behavior. Moreover, it examines the moderating role of tourists’ dependence on a travel agency in these relationships for predicting tourist cancellation patterns in a more specific manner.

기후 변화에 대한 심리적 거리감이 완화 행동 의도에 미치는 영향 : 위험 인식의 매개 효과와 효능감의 조절 효과 중심 분석

기후 변화에 대한 심리적 거리감이 완화 행동 의도에 미치는 영향 : 위험 인식의 매개 효과와 효능감의 조절 효과 중심 분석

The Impact of Psychological Distance and Construal Level on Consumers' Responses to Taboos in Advertising

To date, the use of taboos in advertising has produced mixed results. Such discrepancies require explanation. Relying on construal-level theory and the concept of psychological distance, this research focuses on taboo ads' effects on consumers' responses. The findings from three studies show that for different product categories (Study 1: perfume; Studies 2 and 3: alcohol) and across different taboo types (sex, violence, and a mixture of sex and violence), different distance dimensions (Study 1: spatial; Study 2: social), and different construal-level manipulations (low, high), an increase in the psychological distance (or construal) level attenuates consumers' unfavorable attitudinal and behavioral reactions while a decrease in the psychological distance (or construal) level intensifies consumers' responses. Furthermore, response intensity varies depending on the taboo type used, such that both violent and mixed taboo types produce more negative responses. Finally, gender has an impact, such that women react more negatively than men to different taboos, both across distance dimensions and across distance (construal) levels. A discussion of these findings and their implications, as well as suggestions for future research, concludes the article.

Recycling today, sustainability tomorrow: Effects of psychological distance on behavioural practice

Much research has reported an attitude-behaviour gap in ecological behaviours. This research seeks to contribute important insights to this literature through a study that uses construal level theory (CLT) to understand the role and impact of psychological distance in explaining sustainable and recycling behaviours. Using a qualitative approach, the research found that consistency between mental construal and all dimensions of psychological distance was pertinent to recycling and sustainable behaviours. While theoretically CLT suggests there should be consistency across psychological distance dimensions and mental construal, there is limited research that explores all distance dimensions. Further, highlighted was the need for a near distance perspective to move individuals to behavioural action. Contrary to previous research, this served to facilitate rather than inhibit behavioural action. Finally, the results suggest that where sustainable behaviours are facilitated and/or required engagement in behaviour can be increased. These findings are important for public policy by highlighting the need to represent recycling behaviour in terms of temporal, spatial, social and hypothetical closeness.

The impact of psychological distance on integrative internal dialogs.

Negotiators more distanced from the negotiated goal more often exhibit integrative behavior, which maximizes both their individual and joint outcomes. Based on the assumption of an analogy between interpersonal negotiations and internal dialogs simulating social relationships, an experiment was carried out. It aimed to verify if psychological distance (proximal vs. distant perspective on the situation enacted in an internal dialog) affects the processes of integration and confrontation and, consequently, increases the frequency of integrative dialogs. Data from 115 participants (56 women) were analyzed. An increase in psychological distance was found to reduce the intensity of the confrontation process and to cause an increase in the number of integrative internal dialogs.

When the world isn't always flat: The impact of psychological distance on auditors' reliance on specialists

This study addresses recent calls for research on the conditions influencing auditor decisions related to PCAOB-encouraged reliance on third-party experts. To this end, the present study explores the effect of psychological distance on external auditors' reliance when induced through physical distance in a telework relationship between an auditee and a specialist. The reliance decision focuses on the auditee's contracting with a computer audit specialist who works remotely through a telework arrangement. The psychological distance associated with this telework arrangement is examined both in the context of variance in the physical distance of the computer audit specialist and the interactive effect of a contextual factor — the historical experience with an auditee's internal audit function. A 2×2 experiment with a total of 121 experienced Big 4 auditors is conducted in which psychological distance (physically proximate or remote specialist) and historical experience with an auditee's internal audit function (presence or absence of a prior year material weakness in internal controls) are manipulated. Consistent with predictions based on construal level theory, we find that psychological distance affects auditors' reliance judgment such that increased distance leads to lower reliance. Furthermore, the historical experience with the auditee's internal audit function creates a halo effect which moderates the effect of psychological distance such that the differential effect of a present vs. absent prior year material weakness on auditors' confidence and associated willingness to reduce budgeted audit hours is larger for a psychologically distant specialist. The results of this study suggest that an auditee's choice of a more proximate specialist may garner greater reliance by the external auditor, particularly when there is a material weakness in the prior year audit that the specialist is intended to help ameliorate.

Desirability and Feasibility in Internationalization Intentions: Impact of Psychological Distance

In this paper, we model entrepreneur’s intentions to internationalize based on their perceptions of desirability and feasibility of such opportunities and we test how psychological distance moderate these relationships based on insights of Construal Level Theory. Recognizing that the impact of entrepreneurs’ intentions and perceptions characterize strategic choices especially in new and small firms, we test our model on a sample of 169 entrepreneurs, owners of 140 newly established, independent, technological firms. Results show that internal-driven elements of desirability and feasibility, such as attitudes and skills, rather than external-driven ones, such as social norms and external supports, drive internationalization intentions. Evaluation of internationalization under different conditions of temporal distance, i.e. in the long run vs. in the short run, modifies the relative importance of perceived desirability and feasibility on intention. We discuss potential implications for researchers, practitioners and policy makers interested in entrepreneurial internationalization.

The impact of psychological distance on Chinese customers when selecting an international healthcare service country

This paper investigates how the factors of psychological and geographical distances in conjunction with medical competence influence potential Chinese customers when they select a destination country for international healthcare services. We also explore how the severity of the customer's illness affects his/her choice. In this study data is collected with reference to the Chinese perceptions of the United States of America (USA), Republic of Korea (Korea), Thailand, Singapore, and India. The sample comprises of 1292 potential Chinese customers, and is analyzed using McFadden's conditional logit model. The results indicate that medical competency is the most important determinant of destination choice. In addition, customers contemplating treatment for major diseases tend to choose healthcare services from economically more developed countries, such as the USA, in spite of the differences in language, economic condition, and political system. However, respondents considering treatment for relatively minor diseases are more likely to select countries, such as Korea, for which there is a small psychological distance. Along with suggestions for future research, the implications for international healthcare are discussed.