The influence of motivation on person memory and impression formation

Journal/Book: Z Exp Psychol. 1996; 43: Rohnsweg 25, D-37085 Gottingen, Germany. Hogrefe-Verlag GmbH & Co. 114-143.

Abstract: Current models of person perception (e.g., Fiske & Neuberg, 1990) assume person memory to be organized hierarchically, with levels of abstraction varying from more global person categories to detailed representations of specified stimulus attributes. Observational goals in person perception are assumed to elicit information processing strategies that range from primarily category-based processes to attribute-based processes. The present study investigated the effects of different goals on the recall of stimulus information and impression formation. Subjects were presented attributes of natural person categories at different levels of abstraction and instructed (a) to remember the information received, (b) to form an impression of a person, (c) to predict the behavior of a person or (d) to evaluate a person. The analysis of the recall rates confirmed the hypothesis of goal dependency: Instructions to form an impression or to remember the information induced different recall rates at each level of abstraction, as was expected for category-based processes. In contrast, recall rates did not vary at different levels of abstraction under behavior prediction and evaluation of a person, indicating more attribute-based processes. Finally, there was no evidence that the perceiver's goals affected the organization of the stimulus information in terms of dimensions of implicit personality theories. The implications of the results for determinants of the person perception process are discussed.

Note: Article S Krolakschwerdt, Univ Saarland, Fachrichtung Psychol Fachbereich 6, Univ Campus Bau 11, D-66041 Saarbrucken, Germany

Keyword(s): person memory; impression formation; observational; INDIVIDUATING PROCESSES; INFORMATION; PERCEPTION; ATTENTION; COGNITION

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