title: Spontaneous trait inference and spontaneous trait transference are both unaffected by prior evaluations of informants.
abstract: This article reports results from a study in which participants encountered either (a) previously known informants who were positive (e.g. Abraham Lincoln), neutral (e.g., Jay Leno), or negative (e.g., Adolf Hitler), or (b) previously unknown informants. The informants ostensibly described either a trait-implicative positive behavior, a trait-implicative negative behavior, or a neutral behavior. These descriptions were framed as either the behavior of the informant or the behavior of another person. Results yielded evidence of informant-trait linkages for both self-informants and for informants who described another person. These effects were not moderated by informant type, behavior valence, or the congruency or incongruency between the prior knowledge of the informant and the behavior valence. Results are discussed in terms of theories of Spontaneous Trait Inference and Spontaneous Trait Transference.
authors.affiliation: a Northern Illinois University.
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zengel
authors.affiliation: a Northern Illinois University.
authors.forename: James K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Ambler
authors.affiliation: a Northern Illinois University.
authors.forename: Randy J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: McCarthy
authors.affiliation: a Northern Illinois University.
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Skowronski
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002605:Character; D000066499:Facial Recognition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D021641:Recognition, Psychology; D012938:Social Perception; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Social judgment; spontaneous trait inference; spontaneous trait transference; trait inferences