An interactive activation and competition model of person knowledge, suggested by proactive interference by traits spontaneously inferred from behaviours

Yuanbo E. Wang; Nancy C. Higgins; James S. Uleman; Aaron Michaux; Douglas Vipond

doi:10.1111/bjso.12119

An interactive activation and competition model of person knowledge, suggested by proactive interference by traits spontaneously inferred from behaviours

Yuanbo E. Wang, Nancy C. Higgins, James S. Uleman, Aaron Michaux, Douglas Vipond

Psychology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

People unconsciously and unintentionally make inferences about others' personality traits based on their behaviours. In this study, a classic memory phenomenon - proactive interference (PI) - is for the first time used to detect spontaneous trait inferences. PI should occur when lists of behaviour descriptions, all implying the same trait, are to be remembered. Switching to a new trait should produce 'release' from proactive interference (or RPI). Results from two experiments supported these predictions. PI and RPI effects are consistent with an interactive activation and competition model of person perception (e.g., McNeill & Burton, 2002, J. Exp. Psychol., 55A, 1141), which predicts categorical organization of social behaviours based on personality traits. Advantages of this model are discussed.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	126-143
Number of pages	18
Journal	British Journal of Social Psychology
Volume	55
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/bjso.12119
State	Published - Mar 1 2016

Keywords

Brown-Peterson paradigm
Connectionist models
Interactive activation and competition model
Person perception
Proactive interference
Spontaneous trait inferences

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Social Psychology

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10.1111/bjso.12119

Cite this

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abstract = "People unconsciously and unintentionally make inferences about others' personality traits based on their behaviours. In this study, a classic memory phenomenon - proactive interference (PI) - is for the first time used to detect spontaneous trait inferences. PI should occur when lists of behaviour descriptions, all implying the same trait, are to be remembered. Switching to a new trait should produce 'release' from proactive interference (or RPI). Results from two experiments supported these predictions. PI and RPI effects are consistent with an interactive activation and competition model of person perception (e.g., McNeill & Burton, 2002, J. Exp. Psychol., 55A, 1141), which predicts categorical organization of social behaviours based on personality traits. Advantages of this model are discussed.",

keywords = "Brown-Peterson paradigm, Connectionist models, Interactive activation and competition model, Person perception, Proactive interference, Spontaneous trait inferences",

author = "Wang, {Yuanbo E.} and Higgins, {Nancy C.} and Uleman, {James S.} and Aaron Michaux and Douglas Vipond",

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AU - Uleman, James S.

AU - Michaux, Aaron

AU - Vipond, Douglas

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An interactive activation and competition model of person knowledge, suggested by proactive interference by traits spontaneously inferred from behaviours

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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