I know you're me, but who am I? Perspective taking and seeing the other in the self

Sean M. Laurent, Michael W. Myers

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

31 Scopus citations

Abstract

Research examining the consequences of perspective-taking on cognition suggests that through perceiver-target overlap, perspective-taking can lead to greater valuing of targets, greater helping of targets, and a reduction in stereotyping of targets and the groups to which they belong. Research has also begun to focus more closely on the ways perceivers come to think and act like targets. This research, however evocative, is not conclusive. The current studies set out to provide firmer support. Reported here, two studies found that perspective-taking influences perceiver-target overlap, which mediates changes in self-concept (ratings of the self on researcher-related attributes and beliefs after taking the perspective of a researcher in Study 1 and attitudes toward African Americans after taking the perspective of a racist in Study 2). In the same studies, overlap simultaneously mediated valuing of the targets (target ratings on positive attributes in Study 1 and liking for the target in Study 2).

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1316-1319
Number of pages4
JournalJournal of Experimental Social Psychology
Volume47
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2011

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Social Psychology
  • Sociology and Political Science

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