Social Hedonic Editing: People Prefer to Experience Events at the Same Time as Others; excepton are very emotionally impactful events

Social Hedonic Editing: People Prefer to Experience Events at the Same Time as Others. Franklin Shaddy, Yanping Tu, Ayelet Fishbach. Social Psychological and Personality Science, December 4, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1177/1948550620976421

Rolf Degen's take: https://twitter.com/DegenRolf/status/1334851536409735169

Abstract: Previous research testing the hedonic editing hypothesis examined preferences for the timing of events that happen to the self—asking, for example, whether people prefer to experience two positive or two negative events on the same or different day(s). Here, we examine preferences for the timing of events that happen to the self and to others—social hedonic editing. Across five studies (N = 2,522), we find people prefer to experience a positive or negative event on the same day that (vs. a different day than) another person experiences a similar positive or negative event. Studies 1 and 2 document this “preference for integration” in interpersonal (i.e., for the self and others) but not intrapersonal (i.e., for the self) contexts, Studies 3 and 4 suggest people prefer integration because it increases interpersonal connection, and Study 5 highlights a boundary condition. People do not prefer integration for very emotionally impactful events.

Keywords: hedonic editing, social decision making, interpersonal connection, event timing