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The Attributional Model of Priming: a Single Mechanism Account Of THE ATTRIBUTIONAL MODEL OF PRIMING: A SINGLE MECHANISM ACCOUNT OF CONSTRUAL, BEHAVIOR, AND GOAL PRIMING DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for The Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By CHRISTOPHER ALAN LOERSCH, B.S., M.A. ***** The Ohio State University 2009 Doctoral Examination Committee: Dr. Richard E. Petty, Advisor Approved by Dr. Russell H. Fazio Dr. Kentaro Fujita __________________________________ Advisor Graduate Program in Psychology ABSTRACT In this work I propose an attributional model of priming and provide three sets of studies testing basic predictions of this account. Although past theory has conceptualized construal, behavior, and goal priming as arising from separate processes, this model accounts for all with a single mechanism. In particular, I propose that these three outcomes all result when the information made accessible by priming biases a basic inference process. The model assumes that primes cause no default effects, but instead produce general construct accessibility. This accessibility then becomes capable of producing an observable priming effect when it is misattributed to one’s natural response towards some aspect of the situation. Once this occurs, the prime-related mental content can serve as information for answering whatever implicit question is afforded by the focal aspect of the current situation. The exact focal target and the implicit question it presents determine the outcome of this process. If one judges another person or object, this affords the implicit question “Who/What is that? ” and construal priming can result. If one focuses on their behavioral options, this presents the implicit question “ What will I do?” and behavior priming can result. And finally, if one attempts to determine their current motivational state, this affords the implicit question “ What do I want? ” and goal priming can result. Critically, these effects will only occur if the information made accessible by priming is perceived as relevant and diagnostic for answering the afforded implicit question. The studies I present provide evidence for some of the most basic aspects of this model. In particular, I demonstrate that primes are more likely to influence judgments and behavior when they are misattributed to one’s natural response to the situation and that priming effects emerge through a process in which prime-related content is used to answer the implicit question presented by the current object of focus. In line with the model’s predictions, the type of effect which emerges from priming appears to differ across targets of focus due to the different implicit questions they afford. ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank my current and past graduate advisors, Richard E. Petty and B. Keith Payne, for their support and input over the years. They have been instrumental in the development of both this project and my graduate career more generally. The education they have provided has changed me forever and will leave an indelible mark on my professional life. I would also like to thank Valerie E. Jefferis and Kenneth G. DeMarree for their active roles in this research and the members of my dissertation committee, Russell H. Fazio and Kentaro Fujita, for all the time and feedback they have devoted to both this project and my prior research endeavors. Finally, I would like to thank the many research assistants who helped collect this data and the members of the Ohio State University’s Group for Attitudes and Persuasion and Social Cognition Research Group for their fruitful comments on this work as it has developed. iii VITA July 27, 1978...................................................Born – Salina, KS, USA 2002 ................................................................B.S. Psychology, Kansas State University 2004 ................................................................M.A. Psychology, Ohio State University 2002 – present ................................................Graduate Fellow, Ohio State University PUBLICATIONS Loersch, C., Kopp, B., & Petty, R. E. (2007). Attitude change. In R. Baumeister & K. Vohs (Eds), Encyclopedia of social psychology (Vol. 1, pp. 61-65). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. Loersch, C., Aarts, H., Payne, B. K., & Jefferis, V. E. (2008). The influence of social groups on goal contagion. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 44, 1555-1558 . DeMarree, K. G., & Loersch, C. (2009). Who am I and who are you? Priming and the influence of self versus other focused attention. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 45 , 440-443 . Petty, R. E., Briñol, P., Loersch, C., & McCaslin, M. J. (2009). The need for cognition. In M. R. Leary & R. H. Hoyle (Eds.), Handbook of individual differences in social behavior. (pp. 318-329). New York: Guilford Press. FIELDS OF STUDY Major Field: Psychology Specialization: Social Psychology Minor Field: Quantitative Psychology Secondary Minor: Psychobiology iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Abstract ......................................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgments .........................................................................................................................iii Vita ............................................................................................................................................... iv List of Figures...............................................................................................................................vii Introduction ...................................................................................................................................1 Chapters: 1. The Attributional Model of Priming...................................................................................5 Attribution and Consciousness ...........................................................................9 2. Comparisons to Other Models .......................................................................................13 Construal Priming..............................................................................................13 Behavior Priming...............................................................................................17 Goal Priming .....................................................................................................17 Consolidating the Three Priming Effects ..........................................................22 3. Misattribution and Priming .............................................................................................27 Study 3.1 ...........................................................................................................27 Study 3.2 ...........................................................................................................32 Study 3.3 ...........................................................................................................37 Model Implications ............................................................................................40 4. Priming as a Decision Making Process..........................................................................43 Study 4.1 ...........................................................................................................43 Study 4.2 ...........................................................................................................48 Model Implications ............................................................................................50 5. The Limited Effects of Priming .......................................................................................52 Study 5.1 ...........................................................................................................53 Study 5.2 ...........................................................................................................58 Model Implications ............................................................................................59 6. General Discussion........................................................................................................62 The Many Effects of One Prime Problem: A Solution?.....................................65 Potential Limitations..........................................................................................68 v Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................70 List of References .......................................................................................................................71 Appendix - Figures ......................................................................................................................81 vi LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1. The attributional model of priming..................................................................................... 81 2. Study 3.2 - Results............................................................................................................ 82 3. Study 3.3 - Results............................................................................................................ 82 4. Study 4.1 - Results............................................................................................................ 83 5. Study 4.2 - Results............................................................................................................ 83 6. Study 5.1 - Results...........................................................................................................
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