Distance-construal relationship: Mediating role of perceived control and moderating role of locus of control

Frontiers in Psychology

article

Hui-dan Huang¹  Qi Zhang² 

[1] School of Continuing Education, Nanjing University of Science and Technology;School of Management, Zhejiang Gongshang University Hangzhou College of Commerce

关键词: psychological distance;    construal level;    Perceived control;    Locus of Control;    Construal level theory;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpsyg.2022.975417

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Construal level theory (CLT) has been supported and applied widely in social psychology. Yet, the mechanisms behind it remain unclear. The authors extend the existing literature by hypothesizing that perceived control mediates and locus of control moderates the effect of psychological distance on construal level. Four experimental studies were conducted. Results indicate that individuals perceive low (vs. high) situational control from psychological distance (vs. proximity) and resultant control perception influences their motivation in control pursuit, producing high (vs. low) construal level. Moreover, locus of control (i.e. one’s chronic control belief) affects individual’s motivation to pursue control and yields reversal of distance-construal relationship under external (vs. internal) locus of control as a result. Overall, this research firstly identifies perceived control as a closer predictor of construal level and the findings are expected to help with influencing human behavior by facilitating individuals’ construal level via control-related constructs.

【 授权许可】

CC BY