Universität zu Köln

Critcher, Clayton R., Dunning, David and Rom, Sarah C. (2015). Causal Trait Theories: A New Form of Person Knowledge That Explains Egocentric Pattern Projection. J. Pers. Soc. Psychol., 108 (3). S. 400 - 417. WASHINGTON: AMER PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOC. ISSN 1939-1315

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Abstract

Representations of the self and others include not only piecemeal traits but also causal trait theories-explanations for why a person's standing on 1 trait causes or is caused by standings on other traits (Studies 1a-1c). These causal theories help resolve the puzzle of egocentric pattern projection-the tendency for people to assume that traits correlate in the population in the same way they align in the self. Causal trait theories-created to explain trait co-occurrence in a single person-are exported to guide one's implicit personality theories about people in general (Study 2). Pattern projection was found to be largely egocentric (i.e., more strong guided by self-than by social perceptions) for 2 reasons. First, causal trait theories are more numerous for the self. When participants were prompted to generate causal trait theories about someone else, they pattern projected more from that person (Study 3). Second, causal trait theories about the self are more likely to draw on behavioral information from multiple contexts instead of merely seeking to explain why 2 traits co-occur in a single context. Causal trait theories based on trait-relevant behaviors from different contexts, instead of trait co-occurrence within a single context, produce more pattern projection (Study 4). Implications for self and social cognition are discussed.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Critcher, Clayton R. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Dunning, David UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Rom, Sarah C. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-406140
DOI:	10.1037/pspa0000019
Journal or Publication Title:	J. Pers. Soc. Psychol.
Volume:	108
Number:	3
Page Range:	S. 400 - 417
Date:	2015
Publisher:	AMER PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOC
Place of Publication:	WASHINGTON
ISSN:	1939-1315
Language:	English
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language SELF-EVALUATION; IMPRESSION-FORMATION; NARRATIVE IDENTITY; PERSPECTIVE-TAKING; SOCIAL-PERCEPTION; MODELS; JUDGMENTS; STORIES; LIFE; DETERMINANTS Multiple languages Psychology, Social Multiple languages
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/40614