The Virtue of Self-Distancing

Abstract

One develops a moral self, according to Adam Smith, by examining one’s feelings and behavior from a spectators’ point of view. Our first study examines this claim by asking participants to split $10 between themselves and a confederate in any way they deem fit. Prior to deciding, participants were randomly assigned to reflect on their decision from a self-immersed, 1st person perspective or a self-distanced, observer perspective. Contrary to our predictions, analyses performed on the data collected thus far (n = 77) suggest that participants in the self-distanced group keep significantly more money (on average, $1) for themselves, U = 933, z = 2.35. p = .019, r = .27. Although, preliminary (data collection remains ongoing) these results are both fascinating and perplexing. We are currently revisiting our original theory and developing two follow-up experiments to help us explain this interesting and counterintuitive finding.