Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Taking a closer look: On the operation of nonconscious impression formation
AU - McCulloch, Kathleen Cameron
AU - Ferguson, Melissa J.
AU - Kawada, Christie C. K.
AU - Bargh, John A.
PY - 2008/5
Y1 - 2008/5
N2 - In this article, we analyzed the information processing that underlies nonconscious impression formation. In the first experiment, the nonconscious activation of the impression formation goal led to a faster analysis of the trait implications of behaviors, compared with a control group. In Experiment 2, participants who were nonconsciously primed with an impression formation goal were more likely than those in a control condition to form associations in memory between behaviors and implied traits. In Experiment 3, nonconsciously primed participants were more sensitive than those in a control condition to whether inconsistent trait information was relevant or irrelevant to the actor's disposition. Moreover, in Experiments 2 and 3, those with a nonconscious goal showed just as much evidence of impression formation as those who were consciously and intentionally trying to form an impression. Implications for nonconscious goal-pursuit and impression formation are discussed. (C) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
AB - In this article, we analyzed the information processing that underlies nonconscious impression formation. In the first experiment, the nonconscious activation of the impression formation goal led to a faster analysis of the trait implications of behaviors, compared with a control group. In Experiment 2, participants who were nonconsciously primed with an impression formation goal were more likely than those in a control condition to form associations in memory between behaviors and implied traits. In Experiment 3, nonconsciously primed participants were more sensitive than those in a control condition to whether inconsistent trait information was relevant or irrelevant to the actor's disposition. Moreover, in Experiments 2 and 3, those with a nonconscious goal showed just as much evidence of impression formation as those who were consciously and intentionally trying to form an impression. Implications for nonconscious goal-pursuit and impression formation are discussed. (C) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
KW - Nonconscious goal-pursuit
KW - Automaticity
KW - Impression formation
KW - Person perception
KW - Spontaneous trait inference
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=41549101358&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jesp.2007.02.001
DO - 10.1016/j.jesp.2007.02.001
M3 - Journal article
VL - 44
SP - 614
EP - 623
JO - Journal of Experimental Social Psychology
JF - Journal of Experimental Social Psychology
SN - 0022-1031
IS - 3
ER -