The Wall inside the brain: Overestimation of distances crossing the former Iron Curtain

Author(s)
Claus-Christian Carbon, Helmut Leder
Abstract

A study of distance estimations between German cities investigated the organization of mental maps and their specific deviations from reality. Potential factors for the deviation of mental maps from reality are physical barriers, emotional involvement, and semantic unity. Distance estimations between cities situated in different former parts of Germany (East or West) were systematically overestimated compared to distances of cities located in the same parts of Germany. This trend was strengthened when participants had a negative attitude toward the reunification of Germany. The impact of these results is far reaching, because overestimated distances between both German parts indicate that there still exists a mental gap between East and West - even in young people - 15 years after the German reunification. Copyright 2005 Psychonomic Society, Inc.

Organisation(s)
Journal
Psychonomic Bulletin & Review
Volume
12
Pages
746-750
No. of pages
5
ISSN
1069-9384
Publication date
2005
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
5010 Psychology
Portal url
https://ucris.univie.ac.at/portal/en/publications/the-wall-inside-the-brain-overestimation-of-distances-crossing-the-former-iron-curtain(d339638d-c1e8-4e01-b909-ce4b548c7766).html