Department or Program
Psychology
Abstract
This study was designed to analyze the impact of social and temporal distance on thinking about a good life. Previous research has distinguished among three dimensions of a good life: happiness, meaning, and psychological richness (Oishi & Westgate, 2022). Results from a pilot study supported the idea that descriptors for happiness are perceived as more concrete than those for the other two dimensions. According to construal level theory, construals in closer psychological distances (e.g., social distance, temporal distance) are typically perceived as more concrete than those in farther psychological distances (Trope & Liberman, 2010). Study 1 tested whether one would describe a good life for self (lower social distance) using more happy-life descriptors compared to for a stranger (higher social distance). Contrary to predictions, results showed no significant effect of social distance on thinking about a good life. Study 2 tested whether one would describe a good life for the near future self (lower temporal distance) as more concrete, more in happy terms, and less in meaningful and psychologically-rich terms compared to the far future self (higher temporal distance). As expected, the results showed that participants described a good life for their near future self more concretely than for their far future self. Additionally, the three good-life dimensions were significantly different between the two conditions. However, all three dimensions were higher for the far future self condition compared to the low future self condition. These results shed light on possible mappings of CLT onto thinking about a good life.
Level of Access
Restricted: Embargoed [Open Access After Expiration]
First Advisor
Sargent, Michael
Date of Graduation
5-2025
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Recommended Citation
He, Siyu, "The Impact of Social Distance and Temporal Distance on Thinking About a Good Life" (2025). Honors Theses. 483.
https://scarab.bates.edu/honorstheses/483
Number of Pages
79
