This research shows that consumers select a different product when they look
down versus up. Because (1) people are accustomed to looking down to process
nearby stimuli and to looking up to process distant stimuli, and because (2) perceived
distance is linked to concrete versus abstract processing, the association
between moving one’s eyes or head down or up and concrete versus abstract
processing has become overly generalized. A series of three experiments highlights
that downward (upward) head and eye movements evoke more concrete (abstract)
processing because downward (upward) head or eye movements have come to
serve as a proximity (distance) cue. Two additional experiments indicate downstream
behavioral consequences of moving one’s eyes or head down versus up.
Consumers choose more for feasible versus desirable products when looking down
and vice versa when looking up. They also tend to be more preference-consistent
when looking down versus up.