Construal Level of Thought and the Perceived Norm Level: A Quasi-Experiment Study

Masahiro Fujita; Yuri Taniguchi

doi:10.35295/osls.iisl.2325

Authors

Masahiro Fujita Kansai University, Faculty of Sociology https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1681-8221
Yuri Taniguchi Shiga Prefectural University https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4167-6333

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35295/osls.iisl.2325

Keywords:

Construal Level Theory, Social Norms, Abstract Thinking, Legal Norms vs. Group Norms, Normative Judgment

Abstract

This study examines how the construal level of thought influences the perceived abstraction of social norms. Based on construal level theory, we hypothesized that individuals with higher abstract thinking would evaluate norm-violating behaviors using more abstract (e.g., legal) norms, while those with lower-level thinking would rely on more concrete (e.g., group) norms. Using vignette-based questionnaires and the Behavior Identification Form (BIF), we surveyed 118 university students. Participants evaluated scenarios involving norm violations by either significant or unknown others. Results showed that higher construal levels were associated with more abstract normative evaluations, particularly when evaluating unfamiliar actors. These findings suggest that abstraction in thought modulates how individuals cognitively access social norms, with implications for understanding moral reasoning, legal judgment, and the evolution of complex social systems.

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Author Biographies

Masahiro Fujita, Kansai University, Faculty of Sociology

Email: m.fujita@kansai-u.ac.jp

Yuri Taniguchi, Shiga Prefectural University

Yuri Taniguchi is an Associate Professor at the University of Shiga Prefecture, specializing in social and experimental psychology. She received her doctorate from Osaka Municipal University (now known as Osaka Metropolitan University following its merger with Osaka Prefectural University). Her research focuses on social cognition's psychological mechanisms, particularly implicit inferences and interpersonal perception. Professor Taniguchi is interested in how spontaneous trait inferences and motivational factors shape social perception. Her recent work explores the influence of psychological distance on observers’ judgments and behaviors.

She has published in both Japanese and international journals and actively contributes to interdisciplinary conferences in psychology and law. Her scholarly efforts aim to bridge basic psychological processes with practical implications for understanding social cognition and interpersonal behavior.

Dr. Taniguchi has been an Executive Board Member of the Japanese Society for Law and Psychology since October 2024. Prior to this role, she was a member of the Editorial Secretariat for The Japanese Journal of Law and Psychology from October 2021 to October 2024.

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