The effect of psychological distance on intertemporal choice of the reward processing: an eye-tracking investigation

• Published in: Frontiers in psychology Vol. 15; p. 1275484
• Main Authors: Li, Yujie, Chu, Xiaoyi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Media S.A 2024
• Subjects: construal level; intertemporal choice; probability distance; psychological distance; Psychology; social distance; timporal distance; timporal distance; psychological distance; intertemporal choice; probability distance; social distance; construal level
• ISSN: 1664-1078; 1664-1078
• DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1275484

This study employed eye-tracking technology to investigate how varying dimensions of psychological distance-temporal, probability, and social-affect intertemporal choice. Across three experiments, participants were asked to select between two intertemporal options while their eye movements were monitored. Findings revealed inconsistent impacts of different psychological distances on intertemporal decision-making. Increased temporal and social distances led to a preference for larger delayed rewards (Studies 1 and 3), whereas an increase in probability distance did not significantly alter choice preferences (Study 2). The research also highlighted a general pattern in information processing; as psychological distance widened, participants showed a tendency toward dimension-specific processing in making intertemporal decisions.