You Can't See Much in the Dark

Darkness Affects Construal Level and Psychological Distance

Bibliographic Data

ID5338565
AuthorsAnna Steidle (0000-0003-3463-2033, Chemnitz University of Technology), Lioba Werth (Chemnitz University of Technology), Eva-Verena Hanke (Chemnitz University of Technology)
Year2011
Volume42
Issue3
Pages174-184
Publication date2011-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueSocial Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1864-9335 • E-ISSN: 2151-2590
PublisherHogrefe Publishing Group (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1027/1864-9335/a000061
OpenAlexW1912997501
LanguageEN
Citations received11
References cited37

This article investigates the interplay between darkness, construal level, and psychological distance based on the link between environmental lighting conditions and visual perception. In the dark, visual perception becomes less focused and detailed, leading to more abstract representations. We argue that this link between physical darkness and a global perceptual processing style spills over to the conceptual level. In three experiments, darkness triggered a more global perceptual and conceptual processing style than did brightness, regardless of whether the darkness was physically manipulated or primed. Additionally, two Implicit Association Tests (IATs) showed that darkness is more strongly associated with high-level construal than with low-level construal. Moreover, drawing on the generalized link between construal level and psychological distance, we proposed that darkness is also linked to perceived psychological distance because the lack of detail information and the abstract representations in the dark remove objects and other persons from people's direct, detailed experience. Eight IATs confirmed the implicit link between darkness and four dimensions of psychological distance. These implications of these results are discussed with regard to thinking styles and social processes like stereotyping and cooperation

Cognitive psychology · Construal level theory · Darkness · Perception · Animal and Plant Science Education · Behavioral Health and Interventions · Cultural Differences and Values · Psychology · Social Psychology