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Research Details

Psychological Distancing: Why Happiness Helps you See the BIg Picture, Journal of Consumer Research

Abstract

We propose that a positive mood, by signaling that a situation is benign, might allow people to step back and take in the big picture. As a consequence, a positive mood might increase abstract construal and the adoption of abstract, future goals. In contrast, a negative mood, by signaling not only danger but also its imminence, might focus attention on immediate and proximal concerns and reduce the adoption of abstract, future goals.

Type

Article

Author(s)

Aparna Labroo, Vanessa Patrick

Date Published

2009

Citations

Labroo, Aparna, and Vanessa Patrick. 2009. Psychological Distancing: Why Happiness Helps you See the BIg Picture. Journal of Consumer Research.(5): 800-9.

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