This research presents evidence that people predict longer durations of
negative affect for others than for themselves. It is argued that this
self-other effect is based on the asymmetric availability of knowledge
about psychological strategies that reduce negative affective
experiences. Specifically, because people have available knowledge about
their own coping strategies, they use this information when making
predictions about their affect. The lack of information about others'
coping strategies leads to longer predictions of affect duration for
others, creating the self-other effect. A series of studies demonstrated
this self-other effect, its source, and its boundary conditions.
Specifically, the self-other effect occurred for negative but not for
positive events, it was stronger when participants predicted affect
duration for unfamiliar others than when participants predicted affect
duration for familiar others, and the impact of the self versus other
focus on affective forecasts was mediated by the availability of
knowledge about coping strategies. In addition, alternative explanations
for the self-other effect were ruled out. The implications for biases
in affective forecasting are discussed.