Seeking and Avoiding I Contact: When Subjective Overlap Appeals and When It Repels
Open Access
Author:
Long, Anson Elizabeth
Graduate Program:
Psychology
Degree:
Doctor of Philosophy
Document Type:
Dissertation
Date of Defense:
February 02, 2007
Committee Members:
Elizabeth C Pinel, Committee Chair/Co-Chair Karen Gasper, Committee Member Theresa K Vescio, Committee Member Michael Paul Johnson, Committee Member
Keywords:
I-sharing similarity self-as-subject
Abstract:
Previous research demonstrates the positive interpersonal effects of I-sharing (i.e., sharing subjective experiences; Pinel, Long, Landau, Alexander, & Pyszczynski, 2006). In the present research, I examined people’s desire to I-share as a function of the target’s likability, along with three moderators. Study 1 examined the effect of experiential versus rational mindset (Epstein, 1994); Study 2 examined the effect of expectations regarding sharing experiences and the effect of objective similarity. Results support the plausibility of the phenomena of subjective assimilation (i.e., seeking I-sharing) and subjective differentiation (i.e., avoiding I-sharing), and elucidate the roles of the three moderators.
