Remoteness decreases negative feelings about killing.

Abstract

Advancements in technology now afford surveillance and projection of force beyond the immediate vicinity. When people communicate or act via technology, feelings of subjective distance may attenuate affective and behavioral responses that would otherwise be experienced more intensely. As the psychological effects of technology on remoteness (and its consequent behavior) are thus far understudied, we had participants (N = 205) complete an ostensible insect-killing task in which participants were either close (in the same room) or remote (via webcam) from their targets. Participants who killed insects in the same room felt less negative emotional consequences than participants who killed remotely, suggesting that remoteness can blunt the immediate emotional consequences of killing. In addition, there was an indirect effect, such that participants in the remote condition felt less negative emotion and in turn killed more insects. Examining the features of remoteness that could potentially explain this effect, mediational analyses suggested that the subjectively experienced sense of distance from "killed" targets is the most promising candidate. Undoubtedly, remoteness-inducing technology can afford material benefits, such as the use of drones to decrease the number of soldiers on the ground. This research shows that the distance induced by remoteness can also reduce the immediate and potentially the longer-term emotional impact of killing. In combat and other military settings, as well as in civilian life, it is crucial to understand the influence of technological mediation and the distance it affords.