O modelo Anova de Kelley: Análise, críticas e alternativas

In this article, the author claims that a harmful assimetry has been growing in Attribution Theory literature. This assimetry is characterized by a great multitude of empirical research and by a very scarce conceptual production. As an attempt to counter this state of affairs, the author provides a detailed analysis of the theoretical process of generation and development of Kelley's ANOVA model, criticizes it and presents two alternative Attribution models (Saspar's inductive Logical Model and present author's «Method of Differences» - based Model). The main insufficiences of these lines of work are also spelled out. Finally, the author tries to antecipate what steps are to be taken to overcome these insufficiences. Specifically it is argued that the commonsense process of explaining events should be viewed as a knowledge-based inference process and the lay attributor as an hypothesis tester

Both associative activation and thematic extraction count, but thematic false memories are more easily rejected

The main aim of this study was to analyse the roles played by associative activation and thematic extraction in the explanation of false memories using the Deese, Roediger, McDermott (DRM) paradigm. Associative lists with two different types of critical items (CIs) were used: one, the associative CI, corresponded to the word most strongly primed by the associates in the list and another, the thematic CI, was the word that best described the theme of the list. Following three different types of encoding instructions (standard, warning or strategic), false recognition for these two types of CIs was analysed in either self-paced or speeded response recognition tests. The results showed considerable levels of false memories for both types of CIs. Even without the quality of being “good themes”, associative CIs produced high levels of false recognition, which suggests that associative activation plays a prominent role in false memory formation. More interestingly, thematic CIs were more prone to be edited out, reinforcing the argument that thematic identifiability has a major role in the rejection of false memories

Activation is not always inference: Word-based priming in spontaneous trait inferences

People infer, without any intention or awareness, personality traits about actors enacting diagnostic behaviors. This phenomenon is known as spontaneous trait inferences (STIs). The activation of a trait is considered to be a true inference when it results from processing the meaning of the whole behavioral description. However, a trait can also become activated due to intra-lexical associations with individual words in the description. Here, we suggest a method to distinguish the two sources of activation and explore the influence that word-based priming has on some of the most popular paradigms used to study STIs. Results show that in the probe recognition task, word-based priming plays a considerable role and can, in the absence of an appropriate control, mimic spontaneous trait inference occurrence. However, in the false recognition task and in the explicit trait judgment task, the role of this spurious activation is negligible and the real trait inference can be easily detected.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Quando uma acção permite diferentes interpretações: Pré-teste de comportamentos ambíguos

O presente trabalho teve como objectivo construir normas de descrições comportamentais ambíguas. Para tal, elaboraram-se 163 descrições de comportamentos, com vista a que cada uma dessas descrições ilustrasse simultaneamente dois traços de personalidade. Os comportamentos foram apresentados a 80 participantes, de forma a verificar em que medida eles seriam considerados igualmente representativos dos dois traços de personalidade. Os resultados respondem ao objectivo, permitindo extrair alguns comportamentos que podem ser considerados ambíguos. O estudo fornece ainda algumas reflexões metodológicas, a ter em consideração quando se pretende utilizar estímulos ambíguos na investigação

Quando uma acção permite diferentes interpretações: Pré-teste de comportamentos ambíguos

O presente trabalho teve como objectivo construir normas de descrições comportamentais ambíguas. Para tal, elaboraram-se 163 descrições de comportamentos, com vista a que cada uma dessas descrições ilustrasse simultaneamente dois traços de personalidade. Os comportamentos foram apresentados a 80 participantes, de forma a verificar em que medida eles seriam considerados igualmente representativos dos dois traços de personalidade. Os resultados respondem ao objectivo, permitindo extrair alguns comportamentos que podem ser considerados ambíguos. O estudo fornece ainda algumas reflexões metodológicas, a ter em consideração quando se pretende utilizar estímulos ambíguos na investigação

The memory of what we do not recall: Dissociations and theoretical debates in the study of implicit memory

Implicit memory reflects itself on situations in which previously acquired information is expressed, without awareness or intention. The study of implicit memory has had a profound impact on how researchers have investigated the human memory. In this paper, we review the main studies which have revealed dissociations between direct and indirect tests of memory, and address the two main theoretical approaches used to explain these dissociations: the processing view and the multiple systems view. We then describe recent neuroscience studies and discuss its contributions to help clarify the debate about the mechanisms involved in explicit and implicit memory. Finally, we critically analyze some questions and controversies surrounding this literature, such as (a) the transparency assumption and the contamination issue; and (b) the theoretical utility of the dissociations. We emphasize that the biggest challenge for future research is to develop comprehensive theories that integrate behavioral and neuroscience findings.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Explaining the persistence of false memories: a proposal based on associative activation and thematic extraction

[EN]This study aimed to analyse the effect of retention intervals on associative and thematic false memories. Two experiments, using two types of critical items that were either associatively or thematically related to studied material, were conducted. In both experiments, one group of participants performed a recognition test immediately after the presentation of lists, and another group performed the task one week later. In Experiment 1, the recognition test consisted of pairs of items with four response alternatives (both items had been presented, only the left item had been presented, only the right item had been presented or none of the items had been presented). Critical items were also manipulated so that they were either presented in or absent from the list. In Experiment 2, a standard recognition test that differed in the mode of presentation was used: self-paced or speeded response. Both experiments showed that associative critical items were more recognised than thematic critical items in the immediate condition. However, whereas associative critical items decayed after a one week delay, thematic critical items were similarly recognised at both retention intervals. The findings of the present study suggest that each type of process – associative and thematic – behave differently over time

O papel do reconhecimento do acaso no raciocínio indutivo

Segundo Tversky e Kahneman (1974), a actividade inferencial humana baseia-se em grande medida em heurísticas (regras simplificadas de tomada de decisão) que divergem dos princípios estatísticos apropriados ao julgamento na incerteza. No entanto, Nisbett,Krantz, Jepson e Kunda (1983), defenderam que paralelamente às heurísticas não-estatísticas, as pessoas também possuem heurísticas estatísticas (i.e. representações intuitivas e abstractas de certos princípios estatísticos). Fong e Nisbett (1991), sugerem que o uso das heurísticas estatísticas está dependente de regras de codificação (associadas a domínios de conteúdo específicos). Aqui considera-se que o essencial das regrasde codificação é a facilitação do reconhecimento do componente de acaso subjacente aos problemas indutivos. Assim, condições experimentais que facilitem o reconhecimento deste componente aleatório deverãoresultar numa melhoria do desempenho estatístico. Para testar esta hipótese, foram usadas duas manipulações de facilitação do reconhecimento do acaso. Os participantes responderam a um conjunto de problemas indutivos sobre diversos domínios (Desporto, Fidelidade conjugal, Escola, e Saúde), envolvendo vários princípios estatísticos (Lei dos Grandes Números, Regressão à Média, Base-Rates, e Diagnosticidade) antes e após as manipulações (imediatamente ou duas semanas depois). Os resultados revelam uma melhoriano desempenho estatístico para os domínios Fidelidadee Escola, e para os princípios regressão à média ediagnosticidade

Cognitive and contextual variables in sexual partner and relationship perception

Versão pós-printThis study examined the effects of contextual and cognitive variables for sexual protection on perceived social relationship factors. University students (108 women and 108 men) read script-based narratives on sexual encounters inwhich six variables were manipulated in two independent analyses. In thefirst analysis, fourvariableswere evaluated: relational context (stable, casual), condom use (yes, no), script terminus (beginning, middleor end), andthe rater’s sex.Thedependentvariables were interpersonal perception of one of the characters of the narrative, and expectations regarding characteristics and future of the relationship. In the second analysis, two other factors were manipulated only in the‘‘yes’’condom conditions: communicationstrategy (verbal,non-verbal)andcondomproponent gender. Our findings corroborated other studies where condom use was viewed as unromantic with less positive characteristics for relationships. Condom proponents, especiallymale, were perceived as lessromantic,particularlywhenproposingacondomnon-verbally at the beginning of the encounter. However, the controlled variables enabled us to proposeways of associating condomuse withpositive expectationstowards theproponentandthe relationship itself.Romanticism, expectationof sexual intercourse, emotional proximity, and expectations of condom use in encounters where a condom was proposed increased when suggested by a woman,postponedtotheendof theencounter,andverballymentioned. Weencouragewomen to take the lead in suggesting condom use, thus empowering them since they do not have to wait for the male to make the first move