Howell, J. L., Sweeny, K., & Shepperd, J. A. (2014). Action hypocrisy: a psychological distance
explanation of the discrepancy between recommendations and actions. Basic and Applied
Social Psychology, 36, 502-514. doi: 10.1080/01973533.2014.958229
Abstract
Action hypocrisy refers to the tendency to recommend behavior for others that one would
personally be unwilling to undertake. In six studies we examined the relationship between
action hypocrisy and psychological distance. Studies 1a and 1b and 2 demonstrate action
hypocrisy in three populations and in 2 different contexts. Studies 3-5 support a psychological
distance explanation for action hypocrisy. Specifically, people are more likely to choose action
for themselves in the future vs. the present (Study 3), for someone at a distant location vs. a
nearby location (Study 4), and for someone who appears to be distant vs. close in a photograph
(Study 5). Collectively, these studies reveal that psychological distance is a key determinant of
action hypocrisy.
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