title: Feature-specific attention allocation modulates the generalization of recently acquired likes and dislikes.
abstract: We examined whether the generalization of recently acquired likes and dislikes depends on feature-specific attention allocation. Likes and dislikes were established by means of an evaluative-conditioning procedure in which participants were presented with several exemplars of two subordinate categories (e.g., young men vs. old women). Whereas exemplars of one category were consistently paired with negative stimuli, exemplars of the second category were consistently paired with positive stimuli. In addition, we manipulated feature-specific attention allocation for specific stimulus dimensions (e.g., gender vs. age), either during (Experiments 1 and 2) or before the acquisition phase of the experiment (Experiment 3). Both direct and indirect attitude measures revealed a clear impact of this manipulation on attitude generalization. More specifically, only generalization stimuli that were similar to the CSs in terms of the stimulus dimension that was selectively attended to were evaluated in a manner that was congruent with the acquired liking of those CSs.
authors.affiliation: Ghent University, <location>Belgium</location>
authors.forename: Adriaan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spruyt
authors.affiliation: Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, <location>Germany</location>
authors.forename: Karl Christoph
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Klauer
authors.affiliation: Ghent University, <location>Belgium</location>
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gast
authors.affiliation: Ghent University, <location>Belgium</location>
authors.forename: Maarten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Schryver
authors.affiliation: Ghent University, <location>Belgium</location>
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: De Houwer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001288:Attention; D001290:Attitude; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D005794:Generalization, Response; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D012737:Sex Factors
keywords: attitude generalization; attitudes; evaluative conditioning; feature-specific attention allocation; selective attention