The Effects Of Power Stereotypes On Trait Inferences

Humans typically live in highly social environments. The ability to understand other's behavior and the implications of their behavior is seemingly a critical skill for successfully navigating such environments. Inferring traits from behaviors is an important way to understand other's behaviors, and is highly functional in adapting to a complex social environment. It aids our ability to anticipate others' future behaviors and can guide our everyday interactions with others. The research of social cognition suggests that trait inferences involve two separate processes: intentional trait inferences(ITIs) and spontaneous trait inferences(STIs).Traits inferences are an important component of the social cognition, the occurrence of them were influenced by several factors. Past research has shown that stereotypes not only could influence the occurrence of intentional trait inferences but also could influence the occurrence of spontaneous trait inferences. However, the effects of stereotypes on STIs and ITIs were different. Specifically, behavioral information which was inconsistent with stereotypes facilitated ITIs but inhibited STIs. Fiske et al.(2002) have proposed the stereotype content model(SCM), as outcomes of competence-warmth stereotypes. Research based on SCM found that people have mixed stereotypes of power groups. Specifically, people with high-power were regard as high competence and low warmth, and people with low-power were regard as low competence and high warmth. Given that, we speculate that power stereotypes may influence the occurrence of STIs and ITIs.To data, no studies have explicitly investigated the effects of power stereotypes on ITIs and STIs, the current research aims to fill this gap. In addition, the warmth and competence are two fundamental content of social cognition. However, they are not equally important. There is a primacy of warmth on earlier stages of information processing. Thus, the occurrence of ITIs and STIs would be influenced by the primacy of warmth. Some research found that there was apositive effect in ITIs. The ITIs of positive behaviors was faster than that of negative behaviors.And there was a negative effect in STIs. The STIs of positive behaviors was stronger than that of positive behaviors. Given the above considerations, power stereotypes, trait content and behavior valence would influence the occurrence of STIs and ITIs, our aim is to explore the effects of these three factors on ITIs and STIs.In sum, we made a comprehensive literature review regard to trait inferences, power stereotypes, trait content and behavior valence. On the basis of the review, the current research conducted three studies. The first study explored the power stereotypes by using the Implicit Association Test(IAT). Study 2 explored the effects of power stereotypes on individual's intentional trait inferences by using the probe suitable judgment paradigm. Study 3 explored the effects of power stereotypes on individual's spontaneous trait inferences by using the probe recognition paradigm. According to results of data analyses, several conclusions can be drawn as follows:1 People have a mixed stereotype of power groups. Specifically, people with high-power were regard as high competence and low warmth, and people with low-power were regard as low competence and high warmth.2 Trait content influenced the occurrence of ITIs and STIs. The ITIs and STIs of warmth behavioral information were stronger than those of competence behavioral information.3 Behavior valences influenced the occurrence of ITIs and STIs. There was a positive effect in ITIs. The ITIs of positive behaviors was stronger than that of negative behaviors. And there was a negative effect in STIs. The STIs of negative behaviors was stronger than that of positive behaviors.4 Power stereotypes influenced the occurrence of ITIs and STIs. The ITIs and STIs of behavioral information which was consistent with power stereotypes were stronger than those of behavioral information which was inconsistent with power stereotypes.