Near and far are two modes (or a spectrum of modes) in which we can think about things. We choose which mode to think about something in based on its distance from us, or on the level of detail we need. This property of human mind is studied in construal level theory.
NEAR: All of these bring each other more to mind | FAR: All these bring each other more to mind |
|---|---|
Here | There |
Now | Then |
Me | Them |
Trend-Deviating Likely Real Local Events | Trend-Following Unlikely Hypothetical Global Events |
Concrete | Abstract |
Context-Dependent | Context-Freerer |
Unstructured | Schematic |
Detailed | Course |
Goal-Irrelevant Incidental Features | Goal-Related Features |
Feasible Safe Acts | Desirable Risk-Taking Acts |
Secondary Local Concerns | Central Global Symbolic Concerns |
Socially Close Folks with Unstable Traits | Socially Distant People with Stable Traits |
Confident Predictions | |
Polarized Evaluations |