Abstract:

In previous research (G. Steins and R. A. Wicklund; see record 1996-01920-005), perspective-taking depended on the interplay between 2 variables: (1) press (the relationship intensity between perceiver and perceived person) and (2) conflict. In the absence of conflict, perspective-taking was positively related to press; in the presence of conflict, perspective-taking was negatively related to press. In the present 3 studies, involving samples of German students, the author conducted a detailed exploration of the motivational impact of press on perspective-taking: In the 1st study, she measured press via the participant's wish to deal with the other person: in the 2nd study, via the perceiver's preoccupation with the target; and in the 3rd study, she defined press as a general tendency of some participants to become absorbed in other individuals. All 3 studies included elements of conflict. The results further support the perspective-taking model and improve the understanding of the influence of motivation in person perception