2014/07/31 by Maya Machunsky, Claudia Toma, Vincent Yzerbyt +1 · 1 citation
Social Sciences · Psychology · #Social and Intergroup Psychology #Cultural Differences and Values #Behavioral Health and Interventions
paper · pdf · doi:10.1177/0146167214545039
openalex publication_date 2014/07/31 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/02
Social projection denotes the attribution of characteristics of the self to others and, therefore, increases perceived self-other similarity. The present research tests the assumption that positive but not negative targets elicit social projection. Earlier research has attributed an effect of target valence to mere consistency principles of judgment and has, thus, questioned projection processes to be the origin of self-other similarity. Building on more recent evidence, we suggest that target valence influences self-other similarity above and beyond a consistent response behavior. The results of three experiments in which target valence was manipulated through evaluative conditioning and by smiling versus neutral facial expression support our hypothesis. We discuss how cognitive versus motivated processes can account for these findings and suggest a new conceptualization of social projection whereby projection is a means to regulate social distance.