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Inferences about character and motive influence intentionality attributions about side effects
Jamie S Hughes1, David Trafimow
1Department of Psychology, Daemen College, Amherst, New York 14226, USA. jhughes@daemen.edu
The British Journal of Social Psychology
|May 28, 2011
Summary
People judge intentionality differently based on a person's character and motives. Good side effects are seen as more intentional than bad ones, especially for positive characters.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Understanding how people attribute intentionality to actions and their consequences is crucial in social perception.
- The 'side-effect effect' suggests people are more likely to attribute intentionality to negative side effects than positive ones.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of motive and character inferences on intentionality attributions for foreseeable consequences (side effects).
- To examine whether the 'side-effect effect' is general or moderated by target person characteristics.
Main Methods:
- Two studies were conducted involving participants evaluating intentionality attributions.
- Study 1 examined attributions based on positive versus negative side effects and positive character descriptions.
- Study 2 manipulated target person information (character and motives) and assessed intentionality for consistent versus inconsistent side effects.
Main Results:
- Intentionality attributions were higher for good side effects than bad side effects when the target person's character was positive.
- Intentionality attributions were greater when side effects aligned with the target person's character and motives.
- Findings challenge the broad applicability of the 'side-effect effect'.
Conclusions:
- Inferences about a person's motive and character significantly shape judgments of intentionality regarding action consequences.
- The perceived intentionality of side effects is context-dependent, influenced by pre-existing beliefs about the actor.
- Future research should consider the interplay of character, motive, and intentionality attributions in social perception.
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