Developing a General Construal Questionnaire

thinking and concrete thinking shape how we interpret and interact with the world. One of the most influential approaches to abstract and concrete construals is Construal Level Theory, which has primarily taken a situational approach to studying construal level. The current research develops the General Construal Questionnaire to measure individuals' general tendencies toward abstract and concrete thinking, opening possibilities for new research that extends past the focus on situational construal. Distinguishing abstract and concrete construals as distinct factors reveals that they have unique effects. Abstract construal correlates with extraversion, openness to experience, a focus on the future, promotion, and desirability, a preference for cognition, tolerance for uncertainty, and a tendency to perceive similarities, stereotype, and evaluate. Concrete construal correlates with conscientiousness, a focus on the present, prevention, and feasibility, a preference for certainty and perfectionism, and a tendency to perceive differences and make daily progress.

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Publication Details

Journal
Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
Published
2025-03-23
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/01461672251321318
Primary Topic
Cultural Differences and Values
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Developing a General Construal Questionnaire

Michele Williams, Batia M. Wiesenfeld, Robert D. Barrett, Yidan Yin et al.
Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
Cultural Differences and Values
article

Developing a General Construal Questionnaire

Michele Williams, Batia M. Wiesenfeld, Robert D. Barrett, Yidan Yin, Cheryl Wakslak
article en

Abstract

thinking and concrete thinking shape how we interpret and interact with the world. One of the most influential approaches to abstract and concrete construals is Construal Level Theory, which has primarily taken a situational approach to studying construal level. The current research develops the General Construal Questionnaire to measure individuals' general tendencies toward abstract and concrete thinking, opening possibilities for new research that extends past the focus on situational construal. Distinguishing abstract and concrete construals as distinct factors reveals that they have unique effects. Abstract construal correlates with extraversion, openness to experience, a focus on the future, promotion, and desirability, a preference for cognition, tolerance for uncertainty, and a tendency to perceive similarities, stereotype, and evaluate. Concrete construal correlates with conscientiousness, a focus on the present, prevention, and feasibility, a preference for certainty and perfectionism, and a tendency to perceive differences and make daily progress.

Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
University of Southern California (US), University of Iowa (US), Pennsylvania State University (US), Midway University (US), New York University (US)
Reduced inequalities
Openalex Percentile: Top 94%
Cultural Differences and Values
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Developing a General Construal Questionnaire — Michele Williams, Batia M. Wiesenfeld, et al. · Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin (2025) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS