Trait implications as a moderator of recall of stereotype-consistent and stereotype-inconsistent behaviors

Abstract

The assumption was tested that organization in memory of behavioral information and recall depends on the descriptive relatedness of consistent information with inconsistent information. Subjects read stereotype-consistent and stereotype-inconsistent behavioral descriptions implying the same trait dimension (e.g., intelligent and stupid behaviors) or different trait dimensions (e.g., intelligent and aggressive behaviors). It was hypothesized that if stereotype-inconsistent behaviors were associated with consistent behaviors because of shared trait implications, these behaviors would be recalled better than stereotype-consistent behaviors. Conversely, it was expected that if subjects were provided with inconsistent information that, because of differential trait implications, could not be associated with consistent information, inconsistent information would be stored separately, and recall of this information would be worse. These predictions were corroborated in a recall task. Conditional recall probabilities and clustering scores supported the proposed underlying organization of information in memory.