Chris Arnold
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chrisguarnold.bsky.social
Chris Arnold
@chrisguarnold.bsky.social
Associate Professor in Government and Artificial Intelligence at the University of Birmingham. Data addict. Visualisation enthusiast. I ♥ institutions.
Reposted by Chris Arnold
July 10, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Applications

This work offers insights for those studying communication in #Psychology, #Politics, #Media, and #Marketing.

Framing distances can shift urgency, abstraction, and focus—impacting decisions and perceptions.

Read more here: guilfordjournals.com/doi/10.1521/...
Perceiving Distances and Construing Targets Based on Communication | Social Cognition
Construal level theory states that the psychological distance to events and objects affects their construal level. But how do humans get to the psychological distance in the first place? We argue that...
guilfordjournals.com
December 20, 2024 at 7:35 AM
Refining Construal Level Theory

We show that how distances are framed influences construal levels just as much as the distance itself.

This adds nuance to how we think about language, psychology, and audience perception.
December 20, 2024 at 7:35 AM
Key Insight 2: Shaping Perceptions

The resolution of a distance profoundly affects how abstract or concrete people perceive events.
• Broad (“next year”): abstract, distant
• Specific (“August 3rd next year”): concrete, immediate

Words matter in shaping psychological distance.
December 20, 2024 at 7:35 AM
Key Insight 1: Distances Have Resolutions

It is not just about how far something is but how we communicate it.
For example:
• “1km” vs. “1,000m”
• “Next year” vs. “August 3rd next year”

Both convey the same distance but evoke very different perceptions.
December 20, 2024 at 7:35 AM
Key Insight 2: Shaping Perceptions

The resolution of a distance profoundly affects how abstract or concrete people perceive events.
• Broad (“next year”): abstract, distant
• Specific (“August 3rd next year”): concrete, immediate

Words matter in shaping psychological distance.
December 20, 2024 at 7:32 AM