%0 Journal Article
%T Psychological Distance Promotes Exploration in Search of a Global Maximum
%A Daniel A. Yudkin
%A Elina Yewon Hur
%A Nira Liberman
%A Rotem Pick
%A Yaacov Trope
%J Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
%@ 1552-7433
%D 2019
%R 10.1177/0146167218799309
%X Agents must sometimes decide whether to exploit a known resource or search for potentially more profitable options. Here, we investigate the role of psychological distancing in promoting exploratory behavior. We argue that exploration dilemmas pit the value of a reward (¡°desirability¡±) against the difficulty or uncertainty of obtaining it (¡°feasibility¡±). Based on construal level theory, which suggests that psychological distance increases the importance of rewards¡¯ desirability (vs. feasibility), we expect that psychological distance will increase exploration. Four experiments support this prediction. In Experiment 1, participants who were prompted to consider an exploration game from a physically distanced perspective were more likely to leave a local maximum in search of a global maximum. Experiments 2 and 3 show that social distance has similar results. Experiment 4 finds evidence of a direct association between construal mind-set and exploration. Overall, this research highlights how psychological distancing strategies can promote exploration
%K search
%K exploration
%K construal level
%K psychological distance
%U https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0146167218799309