My future emotions versus your future emotions: The self-other effect in affective forecasting

Eric Igou and Herbert Bless ()
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Eric Igou: Sonderforschungsbereich 504, Postal: L 13, 15, D-68131 Mannheim
Herbert Bless: Mikrosoziologie und Sozialpsychologie Universität Mannheim, Postal: Seminargebäude A 5 D-68131 Mannheim

No 02-38, Sonderforschungsbereich 504 Publications from Sonderforschungsbereich 504, Universität Mannheim, Sonderforschungsbereich 504, University of Mannheim

Abstract: Previous research has demonstrated that people are not accurate in predicting affective states that result from decisions or events. Recent studies (e.g., Gilbert, Pinel, Wilson, Blumberg & Wheatley, 1998) suggest that individuals overestimate the duration of affective responses. We assume that individuals arrive at different forecasts as a function of whether they make predictions for themselves or for others. We argue that forecasters know less about the ?psychological immune system? (Gilbert et al., 1998) of others than they do about their own. As a result, they predict a longer duration of negative affective reactions in others. Consistent with our assumption, we present two studies that demonstrate this self-other-effect in affective forecasting.

Pages: 26 pages
Date: 2002-04-22
Note: This research was supported by a grant from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft within the SFB 504, at the University of Mannheim. Correspondence should be addressed to Eric R. Igou, GF-Psychology Department, Room 330, New School University, 65 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10003, U.S.A., Email: IgouE@newschool.edu
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