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Spontaneous trait inferences as self-generated primes: implications for conscious social judgment
1Department of Psychology, New York University, New York 10003.
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
|May 1, 1992
Summary
Spontaneous trait inferences act as self-generated primes, influencing judgments. Conscious trait inferences lead to contrast effects, while unconscious ones cause assimilation effects in social cognition.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Cognitive Psychology
- Social Cognition
Background:
- The priming literature shows unconscious trait terms influence judgments.
- Previous research focused on externally presented primes.
- The role of self-generated primes remained less explored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if spontaneous trait inferences (STIs) function as self-generated primes.
- To differentiate the effects of conscious versus unconscious trait inferences on judgment.
- To explore the underlying mechanisms of priming effects in social categorization.
Main Methods:
- Experiment 1: Participants either memorized trait-implying sentences (unconscious inference) or consciously formed inferences.
- Experiment 2: Manipulated evaluative consistency of primed trait constructs to test semantic activation versus evaluative response.
- Judgments were assessed for assimilation or contrast effects relative to primed traits.
Main Results:
- Participants showing spontaneous trait inferences exhibited assimilation effects.
- Participants consciously inferring traits displayed contrast effects.
- Findings supported semantic activation as the mechanism, not just general evaluation.
Conclusions:
- Spontaneous trait inferences serve as potent self-generated primes.
- The level of conscious awareness in trait inference moderates judgment outcomes (assimilation vs. contrast).
- Priming through social categorization is a pervasive cognitive process.