Modification of the Self Through Perspective-Taking: Exploring the Roles of Similarity, Liking, and Knowledge in Simulation-Induced Malleability

Abstract

In Simulation-Induced Malleability (SIM), the retrieval of self-concepts to simulate the perspective of another person (“target”) results in the blending of self and other information, modifying one’s self-concept. Existing literature on this effect is limited, and hypothesizes that greater similarity to a target will result in the retrieval of more self-information, that may subsequently be modified. The present studies isolate similarity from confounding effects in previous studies (particularly target knowledge level), as well as introduce new, socially driven moderating factors: liking, affiliation desire, and closeness towards a target. The results of the three studies presented here provide continuing evidence of SIM as a cognitive phenomenon, and raise further questions for the generalizability of this effect. Since simulation requires cognitive effort, more representative studies may account more fully for factors that would drive naturalistic occurrence of SIM, particularly the social factors investigated here, hypothesized to drive engagement.