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Person theories: their temporal stability and relation to intertrait inferences
Connie S K Poon1, Derek J Koehler
1Department of Psychology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. cskpoon@hkucc.hku.hk
Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin
|May 13, 2008
Summary
Beliefs about personality malleability influence how we infer traits. Believing personality is changeable leads to less extreme trait inferences, especially for related traits.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Psychology
Background:
- Lay beliefs about personality malleability (person theories) are crucial for understanding social cognition.
- Previous research often assumes person theories are stable, but their long-term stability is not well-understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the link between individual differences in intertrait inferences and person theories.
- To examine how beliefs about personality malleability affect trait inference extremity.
- To explore the temporal stability of person theories.
Main Methods:
- Participants' person theories (incremental vs. entity) and intertrait inference patterns were assessed.
- The extremity of inferences for semantically related and unrelated traits was measured.
- Longer-term test-retest coefficients for person theories were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Belief in personality malleability (incremental theory) was associated with less extreme intertrait inferences for semantically related traits.
- The study found greater instability in person theories over longer periods than previously indicated.
- Inferences for semantically unrelated traits were not significantly affected by person theories.
Conclusions:
- Person theories significantly shape intertrait inference processes, particularly for related traits.
- The findings challenge the assumption of person theory stability, highlighting their dynamic nature.
- Understanding these dynamics can improve assessments of personality, reduce stereotyping, and inform future research.
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