iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Abdo Elnakouri @abdoe.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Finally, we found causal evidence for this effect (N =590). Participants who felt like they were in a high (vs. low) relationally mobile context shared less shared reality with non-instrumental others—those who weren’t supporting their goals.

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Abdo Elnakouri @abdoe.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

We replicated this same interaction in a set of two social network studies! What’s cool is that relational mobility wasn’t associated with more shared reality across one’s network. Instead, it looks like people invest more in some but also *less* in others (those not supporting their goals).

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Abdo Elnakouri @abdoe.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Across 39 countries (N = 16,939), we found this to be the case. However, crucially, this increased investment wasn’t distributed evenly—people were more likely to share reality with those who were particularly supportive of their goals (instrumental others), compared to those who weren’t.

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Abdo Elnakouri @abdoe.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Building on this work, we wondered whether people not only invest their hearts ❤️, but also their minds 🧠 in those they care about. Specifically, might people be motivated to share reality, or “merge minds,” with others when in a high relationally mobile context?

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Abdo Elnakouri @abdoe.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Research finds those in high relational mobility contexts invest more in their relationships: they express more love, give grander gifts, and reveal deeper secrets. In these contexts, people don’t take their relationships for granted (the person can leave!), working harder to invest in them.

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Abdo Elnakouri @abdoe.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Cultures vary on "relational mobility,” which captures how much freedom people have in a cultural context to choose new connections (relationships, friendships, etc.) vs. being more ‘‘stuck’’ with existing ties.

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Abdo Elnakouri @abdoe.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

I think most of us recognize that our culture can shape how we see the world. But might culture also shape *who* we look to in order to form our perceptions of the world/reality? We find evidence for this in a 🔥new paper🔥 in SPPS with @elijfinkel.bsky.social and Abigail Scholer. 🧵:

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Abdo Elnakouri @abdoe.bsky.social · 06/10/2025

Also, a big and heartfelt thank you to the many advisors, mentors, and friends who helped make this lab a reality ❤️

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Abdo Elnakouri @abdoe.bsky.social · 31/07/2025

This moustache needs to be permanent, that’s for sure

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Abdo Elnakouri @abdoe.bsky.social · 18/02/2025

If you're going to #SPSP2025, please consider coming to our Friday symposium on false political pessimism!

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Abdo Elnakouri @abdoe.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

We're extending out the deadline to submit blitz talks to the Shared Reality Virtual Conference! New deadline is February 26th. @emmamiller.bsky.social @changlu-cl.bsky.social Please share! Link to register for the conference and submit blitz here: t.co/TXCq3L724h

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Abdo Elnakouri @abdoe.bsky.social · 16/01/2025

We are excited to announce this year's Shared Reality Virtual Conference happening Wednesday March 12 & Thursday March 13, 2025, between 9:50 AM - 1:10 PM ET! You can register below to receive the Zoom link! Submit a data blitz anytime until Feb 7. northwestern.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

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Abdo Elnakouri @abdoe.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

Finally, we found that experimentally increasing the importance of health and fitness goals increased generalized shared reality with partners instrumental to health and fitness goals. 4/

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Abdo Elnakouri @abdoe.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

We next used a social network paradigm. Here we found that people tended to have more shared reality with those in their networks who helped them with more (vs. less) of their goals, an effect that we also found at a between-person (network) level. 3/

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Abdo Elnakouri @abdoe.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

We first find evidence of this through an implicit memory measure. Participants aligned their memory with their partner's attitudes only if that partner was instrumental (vs. not) for their career goals. 2/

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Abdo Elnakouri @abdoe.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

We know that people tend to see the world similarly with ingroup members. But do people share reality with just anyone in their ingroup? In a 🔥new paper🔥we find that people are specifically motivated to create a shared reality with those who support their goals. @mrossignacmilon.bsky.social 🧵1/

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Abdo Elnakouri @abdoe.bsky.social · 02/04/2024

In a new paper with Alex Huynh and @igi.bsky.social we find that inviting people to explain contentious political issues promotes open-minded thinking. Link to paper: authors.elsevier.com/a/1ioyP2Hx2x... tl;dr Twitter/X thread here: x.com/abdoelnakour...

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Abdo Elnakouri @abdoe.bsky.social · 10/01/2024

There is still time to apply for a blitz talk—deadline for blitz submissions has been extended till the 17th! :)

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Abdo Elnakouri @abdoe.bsky.social · 11/12/2023

We’re (@mrossignacmilon.bsky.social & @emmamiller.bsky.social) excited to announce the first-ever *free* Shared Reality Virtual Mini-Conference on Feb 21 2024! You can register below to receive the Zoom link. Submit a data blitz anytime until Jan 10! northwestern.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

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