AUTOMATICITY OF SOCIAL-BEHAVIOR - DIRECT EFFECTS OF TRAIT CONSTRUCT AND STEREOTYPE ACTIVATION ON ACTION

Previous research has shown that trail concepts and stereotypes become active automatically in the presence of relevant behavior or stereoty ped group features. Through the use of the same priming procedures as in previous impression formation research, Experiment 1 showed that pa rticipants whose concept of rudeness was primed interrupted the experi menter more quickly and frequently than did participants primed with p olite-related stimuli. In Experiment 2, participants for whom an elder ly stereotype was primed walked more slowly down the hallway when leav ing the experiment than did control participants, consistent with the content of that stereotype. In Experiment 3, participants for whom the African American stenotype was primed subliminally reacted with more hostility to a vexatious request of the experimenter. Implications of this automatic behavior priming effect for self-Fulfilling prophecies are discussed, as is whether social behavior is necessarily mediated b y conscious choice processes.