Verbal-overshadowing effect: evidence for a general shift in processing.
Two experiments investigate the nature of the verbal-overshadowing effect-the finding that recognition performance for certain stimuli is impaired if it is described verbally (Schooler & Engstler-Schooler, 1990). Impairment on a face-recognition task was found, although participants produced not a verbal description of the target but, instead, a description of another object (a car) presented in the study phase. These results support the idea that the verbal-overshadowing effect reflects a general shift in the processes involved in face recognition rather than a specific impairment for the described stimulus. Results also support the notion that the impairing effect of verbalization is unique to certain types of stimuli; verbalization impaired recognition of a face but not of a car.
Westerman
D L
DL
Department of Psychology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA. dlw5@po.cwru.edu
Larsen
J D
JD
D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D011939:Mental Recall; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D012153:Retention, Psychology; D014705:Verbal Behavior