Abstraction Allows Susceptibility to the Perspective of Others: The Case of Decreased Public Self-Awareness Due to Concrete Thinking

The ability to process information abstractly functions traverse psychological distance and expand one’s mental horizons. Therefore, abstract (vs. concrete) thinking may contract) social scope. Accordingly, it was hypothesized that concrete abstract) processing makes one less more) susceptible the perspective of others, attenuating increasing) public—but not private—self-awareness. Four studies (total N = 708) tested this idea. In a pilot study, positive correlation between abstraction public (but private) self-awareness found. Studies 1a, 1b, 2, manipulated reduced but private self-awareness. Study 1b additionally indicated by rather than increased thinking. 2 also investigated effect on anxiety embarrassment. It demonstrated (relative indirectly embarrassment via Implications findings are discussed.