Occurrence and anchoring effect for the illusion of transparency in Japanese

Abstract

An "illusion of transparency" (Gilovich, Savitsky, & Medvec, 1998) is a tendency for individuals to overestimate the extent to which their internal states are apparent to others. Three experiments were conducted based on the Gilovich et al.'s procedure (1998; Study 2), in which actors were instructed to conceal their disgust from observers while drinking an unpleasant tasting drink. In Study 1a, Japanese actors also showed the illusion (n = 45). In the face-to-face condition in Study 1b (n = 46), the illusions of transparency did not disappear, indicating that the results of study la were not just an experimental artifact. In Study 2 (n = 116), intensity of the inner experience of the actor increased the magnitude of actors' illusions. The subjectivity and universal cognitive biases during communication of internal states are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) (journal abstract)