Truth from language and truth from fit: The impact of linguistic concreteness and level of construal on subjective truth
Across four experiments, Hansen and Wanke found that identical statements were rated as more likely to be true when phrased concretely than abstractly, with greater perceived vividness as one explanation. Concrete statements were especially persuasive when participants were primed with a concrete mindset or when the information appeared in a spatially proximal location. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 2010; authors Jochim Hansen and Michaela Wanke.
Across four experiments, Hansen and Wanke found that identical statements were rated as more likely to be true when phrased concretely than abstractly, with greater perceived vividness as one explanation. Concrete statements were especially persuasive when participants were primed with a concrete mindset or when the information appeared in a spatially proximal location. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 2010; authors Jochim Hansen and Michaela Wanke.
Written from the abstract, OpenAlex search record, 2026-11-03; full text not read.
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Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. doi:10.1177/0146167210386238 https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167210386238