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Salience, set size, and illusory correlation: making moderate assumptions about extreme targets
D M Sanbonmatsu1, S Shavitt, B D Gibson
1Department of Psychology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City 84112.
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
|June 1, 1994
Summary
Salience effects in judgment are reduced with fewer targets or more processing time. Illusory correlations form less often with moderate descriptions, as people assume nonsalient targets are moderate.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Social Psychology
Background:
- Salient individuals and objects receive more extreme evaluations.
- Previous research explored illusory correlation, set size, and salience effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the conditions under which salience effects occur.
- To understand the mechanisms behind illusory correlations related to salience.
Main Methods:
- Integrated theories of illusory correlation, set size, and salience.
- Analyzed how target number and processing time influence evaluations.
- Examined the impact of descriptive extremity on illusory correlations.
Main Results:
- Salience effects are weakened with low target set sizes and ample processing time.
- Illusory correlations are less likely when target descriptions are moderate.
- People learn more about salient targets and assume moderate qualities for nonsalient ones.
Conclusions:
- The tendency to evaluate salient targets extremely is context-dependent.
- Illusory correlations arise from differential learning and assumptions about target qualities.
- Understanding these biases is crucial for accurate social perception.