From being alone to being the only one: Neuroticism is associated with an egocentric shift in an alone context

2019

Objective This research presents evidence for an egocentric shift occurring among individuals high in Neuroticism by the mere thought-and actual state-of being alone. Method Four experiments and one experience sampling study (N = 719). In the experiments, Neuroticism was measured, and participants were randomly primed to adopt either an alone or a "with others" social context mind-set. The experiments measured different expressions of egocentrism. Study 1 measured perspective-taking, Study 2a was focused on social value orientation, Study 2b measured money allocation in a dictator game, and Study 3 measured self-reported and behavioral interpersonal trust. Trust was also the focus of Study …