If It'S Similar, It's More Likely...But Can It Be Worth It? the Impact of Manipulating Perceived Similarity on Probability Judgments and Outcome

In three studies, we show that increasing perceived proximity to an affected individual inflated probability ratings for the likelihood that the event will affect the self. These inflated probabilities, in turn, led people to infer that events that strike proximal (vs. distant) others will have a lesser impact.