{"id":1385,"slug":"svensson-2022-self-relevance-attention","title":"Svensson et al. (2022), Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology — self-relevance modulates attentional processing (narrowing of visual attention / executive control) even for arbitrary stimuli","kind":"reference","scope":"business","status":"current","audiences":["kevin","smb-owner","candid-team"],"topics":["behavioral-economics","interactive-tool-mechanisms"],"reference_body":"**Claim:** Svensson et al. (2022), *Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology*: **self-relevance modulates attentional processing** (narrowing of visual attention / executive control) **even for arbitrary stimuli**.\n\n**Source:** Svensson et al. (2022), QJEP.\n\n**Confidence:** Verified.\n\n**Why this matters for Candid:** Extends [[symons-johnson-1997-self-reference-meta]] from memory to attention. Self-relevant information **grabs attention pre-consciously**, which is why a personalized output on a calculator feels qualitatively different to look at than a generic price page.","rationale_body":null,"metadata":null,"links":{"outgoing":[{"slug":"symons-johnson-1997-self-reference-meta","title":"Symons & Johnson (1997) meta-analysis — self-reference effect: information encoded in relation to the self is better recalled; the self is a well-developed elaboration construct","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"depends-on"}],"incoming":[{"slug":"research-brief-interactive-tool-mechanisms-smb-june-2026","title":"Research brief: why interactive tools deepen a business's relationship with its audience — a mechanism-level research package (June 2026)","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"relates-to"},{"slug":"rule-maximise-self-relevance-in-output","title":"R3 — Maximise self-relevance in the output: show the user's own number, not \"people like you average X\"; the personalization mechanism is the best-evidenced lever in the brief","kind":"rule","scope":"business","link_type":"depends-on"}]},"created_at":"2026-06-20T18:18:57.505Z","updated_at":"2026-06-20T18:18:57.505Z"}