The Aging Stereotype Effects On The College Students' Intentional And Spontaneous Trait Inferences

Trait inferences refer to the cognitive processes in which individuals infer actors'personality traits from their behaviors, and It is very important to the study of Social cognition process in social psychology and developmental psychology. Trait inferences include intentional trait inferences and spontaneous trait inferences. The dual-process models of Social cognition consider that intentional trait inferences and spontaneous trait inferences have their own characteristics. In the processes of the inference, intentional trait inferences are characterized by awareness, intentionality, controllability, and cognitive effort. spontaneous trait inferences are the relatively automatic process, requires little effort or conscious attention. Many studies suggest in the presses of Social cognition, stereotype has an important impact on the cognition and judgment about others. Aging stereotypes are an important pattern of stereotypes. trait inferences are the important processes of Social cognition, though aging stereotype maybe has the effect on the trait inferences.A large body of research has provided convincing evidence for the generation of intentional trait inferences and spontaneous trait inferences. As yet, most research into trait inferences has focused solely on behaviors, whereas the features of the actors (e.g., gender, aging) have remained nondescript. A few studies on spontaneous trait inferences demonstrated the influence of stereotypes associated with actor's features on the occurrence of spontaneous trait inferences. However, little attention has been paid to the influence of stereotypes on the intentional trait inferences process.In the present thesis, comprehensive literature review was made with regard to aging stereotypes and trait inference. Further analyses were focused on the limitations of the prior researches.On the basis of such researches, two related studies were presented following the purposes set forth in this research.In study 1, using a probe recognition paradigm, explore whether the Chinese college students can make intentional trait inferences and spontaneous trait inferences spontaneous trait inferences.In study 2, using a probe recognition paradigm under intentional trait inferences or spontaneous trait inferences condition, explore the difference of the aging stereotype effects on the college students' intentional and spontaneous trait inferences.The findings in the above two studies are as follows:1 under impression formation instructions, the college students made intentional trait inferences; under memorization instructions, the college students made spontaneous trait inferences.2 It is different to the aging stereotype effects on the college students'intentional and spontaneous trait inferences. It demonstrated that aging stereotypes influence intentional trait inferences and spontaneous trait inferences process from aging stereotype-inconsistent behavioral information in a clearly distinct way, but didn't affect spontaneous trait inferences or intentional trait inferences process from aging stereotype-consistent behavioral information. Specifically speaking, when the trait implications of person's behaviors are inconsistent with aging stereotypes, spontaneous trait inferences are inhibited compared to the neutral baseline in spontaneous trait inferences condition, but intentional trait inferences are facilitated compared to the neutral baseline in intentional trait inferences condition.