The interaction of trait and group information on impression formation

Abstract

The present study examined the interacting effects of trait (central traits of personality: warm vs. cold) and group information (in-group/out-group categorization: we versus other) in impression formation. These effects were investigated using the subliminal multiple-priming technique, in which the four possible combinations of trait and group information (warm-we, cold-we, warm-other, or cold-other) preceded picture stimuli of a person. Participants’ overall impressions of the target person (such as good-bad and likable-dislikable judgments) were then assessed. The results revealed a significant interaction effect of characteristic and group information on the likable-unlikable rating. The prime of we-cold led to a more favorable impression than those of other-cold and we-warm. The findings suggest the dynamic interaction of inconsistent information on impression formation and the implications of the present findings are discussed.