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Traits as prototypes: Effects on recognition memory

Traits as prototypes: Effects on recognition memory The hypothesized operation of personality traits as conceptual prototypes, analogous to visual-pattern prototypes or scripts for everyday episodes, was investigated in a recognition memory paradigm. 200 trait adjectives were rated for degree of relatedness (high, moderate, minimal) to the prototype concepts extravert and introvert . Selected adjectives were then used to describe 4 characters: an extravert, an introvert, and 2 unextraverted and unintroverted characters. 38 undergraduates participated in a prototype explicit condition (in which the extravert and introvert characters were explicitly identified) and 38 took part in a prototype implicit condition. Data from the recognition memory test revealed significant bias in recognition toward conceptually related but nonrepresented items, as predicted, for only the introvert and extravert characters in both the prototype explicit and implicit conditions. The total results suggest the coexistence of veridical and prototype-biased memory for personality information and closely parallel the findings for simple prototypes (e.g., visual patterns) in cognitive psychology. (25 ref) http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Journal of Personality and Social Psychology American Psychological Association

Traits as prototypes: Effects on recognition memory

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References (23)

Publisher
American Psychological Association
Copyright
Copyright © 1977 American Psychological Association
ISSN
0022-3514
eISSN
1939-1315
DOI
10.1037/0022-3514.35.1.38
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

The hypothesized operation of personality traits as conceptual prototypes, analogous to visual-pattern prototypes or scripts for everyday episodes, was investigated in a recognition memory paradigm. 200 trait adjectives were rated for degree of relatedness (high, moderate, minimal) to the prototype concepts extravert and introvert . Selected adjectives were then used to describe 4 characters: an extravert, an introvert, and 2 unextraverted and unintroverted characters. 38 undergraduates participated in a prototype explicit condition (in which the extravert and introvert characters were explicitly identified) and 38 took part in a prototype implicit condition. Data from the recognition memory test revealed significant bias in recognition toward conceptually related but nonrepresented items, as predicted, for only the introvert and extravert characters in both the prototype explicit and implicit conditions. The total results suggest the coexistence of veridical and prototype-biased memory for personality information and closely parallel the findings for simple prototypes (e.g., visual patterns) in cognitive psychology. (25 ref)

Journal

Journal of Personality and Social Psychology – American Psychological Association

Published: Jan 1, 1977

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