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Picture yourself at the polls: visual perspective in mental imagery affects self-perception and behavior
Lisa K Libby1, Eric M Shaeffer, Richard P Eibach
1Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, 1835 Neil Ave., Columbus, OH 43210, USA. Libby.10@osu.edu
Psychological Science
|April 21, 2007
Summary
Visual perspective influences behavior. Picturing future actions from a third-person view enhances self-perception and increases the likelihood of performing the action, such as voting.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Self-perception and future behavior are influenced by cognitive processes.
- Visual perspective-taking plays a role in social judgment and memory.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how visual perspective (first-person vs. third-person) affects self-perception and subsequent behavior.
- To determine the causal role of mental imagery in shaping future actions.
Main Methods:
- Participants were instructed to visualize voting in a presidential election from either a first-person or third-person perspective.
- Behavioral outcomes, specifically voter turnout, were measured.
Main Results:
- Adopting a third-person perspective led to a stronger pro-voting mindset.
- Participants instructed to use a third-person perspective were significantly more likely to vote.
Conclusions:
- Visualizing future actions from an observer's (third-person) perspective can causally influence self-perception and behavior.
- Mental imagery, specifically perspective-taking, is a key determinant of future actions.
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