Representation Across Time: Generalizing Temporal Effects on Perceived Similarity

Recent research suggests that the distance of a described event in the future can affect the way in which it is construed. In a previous paper, we demonstrated that temporal distance can influence the perceived similarity between two events by differentially highlighting their abstract and concrete attributes. The current paper extends and clarifies these findings, demonstrating similar effects for events that are described as taking place in the past, and ruling out alternative explanations based on planning and coordination of actions. Taken together, the results of these studies suggest a general effect of temporal distance, which makes certain kinds of information more or less available