FOR2718-A6 (pp)

Distance-Dependent Representational Format

01/10/2023 to 30/09/2026

In this project, we investigate the hypothesis that the way a person mentally constructs an object depends, among other things, on the psychological distance between the person and the object. Specifically, with increasing psychological distance, representations presumably become more abstract and amodal. We investigate this distance-dependency of representations in two lines of research. First, we examine whether psychological distance and level of abstractness are associated dimensions in the human mind, as proposed by the construal-level theory. We are specifically interested in the factors contributing to psychological distance, and whether spatial processing serves a special role in this association. Second, we investigate whether the representational format used for representing a particular object depends on the psychological distance to the object in question. We hypothesize that proximal objects are captured in more modal representations, whereas distal objects are captured in more amodal ones. In a series of virtual-reality experiments, we will manipulate psychological distance and investigate its influence on two diagnostic effects of more modal representations: sensorimotor compatibility and position-dependent recall effects. These two effects should be more substantial for proximal than distal target objects if representational formats are distance-dependent.