Abstract
The current research examined how people form context-based trait impressions and why some of these impressions are stronger than others. This research drew from principles of attention theory (Kruschke, 1996, 2001) in order to account for the processes underlying impression formation in context. According to attention theory, the traits expressed by an individual target person in a rarely occurring context should be more strongly associated with that context than the traits expressed in a commonly occurring context are associated with the common context. That is, people form stronger impressions of others' behavior in rare compared to common contexts. Four experiments provide support for these predictions. The current study is one of the first to examine the cognitive mechanisms by which perceivers form trait impressions of individuals across different contexts and to explain why some of these impressions are stronger than others. Implications of the nature of these impression formation processes are discussed.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 146-156 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Journal of Experimental Social Psychology |
| Volume | 68 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 1 2017 |
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Keywords
- Attention theory
- Context effects
- Impression formation
- Learning order
- Person perception
- Trait impressions
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Social Psychology
- Sociology and Political Science
Cite this
On the formation of context-based person impressions. / Huang, Lisa M.; Sacchi, Dario L.M.; Sherman, Jeffrey.
In: Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, Vol. 68, 01.01.2017, p. 146-156.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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TY - JOUR
T1 - On the formation of context-based person impressions
AU - Huang, Lisa M.
AU - Sacchi, Dario L.M.
AU - Sherman, Jeffrey
PY - 2017/1/1
Y1 - 2017/1/1
N2 - The current research examined how people form context-based trait impressions and why some of these impressions are stronger than others. This research drew from principles of attention theory (Kruschke, 1996, 2001) in order to account for the processes underlying impression formation in context. According to attention theory, the traits expressed by an individual target person in a rarely occurring context should be more strongly associated with that context than the traits expressed in a commonly occurring context are associated with the common context. That is, people form stronger impressions of others' behavior in rare compared to common contexts. Four experiments provide support for these predictions. The current study is one of the first to examine the cognitive mechanisms by which perceivers form trait impressions of individuals across different contexts and to explain why some of these impressions are stronger than others. Implications of the nature of these impression formation processes are discussed.
AB - The current research examined how people form context-based trait impressions and why some of these impressions are stronger than others. This research drew from principles of attention theory (Kruschke, 1996, 2001) in order to account for the processes underlying impression formation in context. According to attention theory, the traits expressed by an individual target person in a rarely occurring context should be more strongly associated with that context than the traits expressed in a commonly occurring context are associated with the common context. That is, people form stronger impressions of others' behavior in rare compared to common contexts. Four experiments provide support for these predictions. The current study is one of the first to examine the cognitive mechanisms by which perceivers form trait impressions of individuals across different contexts and to explain why some of these impressions are stronger than others. Implications of the nature of these impression formation processes are discussed.
KW - Attention theory
KW - Context effects
KW - Impression formation
KW - Learning order
KW - Person perception
KW - Trait impressions
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84978216802&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jesp.2016.06.011
DO - 10.1016/j.jesp.2016.06.011
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84978216802
VL - 68
SP - 146
EP - 156
JO - Journal of Experimental Social Psychology
JF - Journal of Experimental Social Psychology
SN - 0022-1031
ER -