Year: 2009
Type: article
Abstract: The correspondence bias is a robust phenomenon, but prior research has shown that some individuals can avoid this bias, e.g., those who are suspicious of another person's motives.In four studies, I examined whether the reduction in the correspondence bias by suspicious individuals acts at least in part through the temporary activation of causal uncertainty (CU) feelings.In Study 1, participants read a scenario meant to activate differing levels of suspicion and subsequently recorded their temporarily activated CU feelings.Findings showed that CU feelings were activated more and correspondent inferences were made less when individuals were suspicious; however, I did not find evidence of mediation of the reduction in correspondent inferences by the increased activation of CU feelings.In Study 2, I attempted to address some of the potential limitations of Study 1 by changing the placement of the CU feelings scale, adding more CU feelings-related dependent measures, and providing a more engaging suspicioninducing scenario.Findings showed that participants' levels of suspicion predicted their CU feelings more in the low-than high-ulterior motive condition.In turn, those CU feelings mediated the reduction in correspondent inferences.As this moderated mediation was unexpected, Study 3 was a replication of Study 2 and revealed the same pattern of results.Study 4 provides support for the idea that the unexpected findings in Studies 2 & 3 resulted from the differential ambiguity of which potential ulterior motive iii was responsible for the target's behavior in the low-and high-ulterior motive conditions.Specifically, in Study 4, I attempted to manipulate the ambiguity of the motives of a target in a suspicious scenario.I found that the perceived ease of resolution of which motives were responsible for a target's behavior predicted whether CU mediated the reduction in correspondent inferences.v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank my advisor, Gifford Weary, for all of her invaluable guidance and encouragement.I also would like to
Author: Alison M. Luby
Institution: The Ohio State University
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2263938969