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Trait memory and behavior memory: the effects of alternative pathways on impression judgment response times
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
|January 1, 1986
Summary
This study shows that forming trait inferences speeds up judgments, but only if behavior memories aren't recently activated. Priming behaviors can hinder trait judgments after inferences are made.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Social Psychology
Background:
- Previous research suggests remembered behaviors or trait inferences influence new trait judgments.
- A spreading activation model of memory provides a framework for understanding memory accessibility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate factors affecting the accessibility of inferences and behaviors in trait judgment.
- To test predictions of a spreading activation model using response-time methods.
Main Methods:
- Participants' response times were measured to assess memory accessibility.
- Experimental manipulations varied factors influencing the accessibility of trait inferences and behavior memories.
Main Results:
- Prompting inference formation facilitated trait judgment response times when behavior memories were not recently primed.
- Behavior priming slowed trait judgments for participants previously induced to make inferences.
Conclusions:
- The findings support a spreading activation model, indicating that inference formation strengthens direct pathways to trait concepts.
- The interplay between inference and behavior memory accessibility influences trait judgment efficiency.