INDIVIDUAL-DIFFERENCES IN SOCIAL CATEGORIZATION - THE INFLUENCE OF PERSONAL NEED FOR STRUCTURE ON SPONTANEOUS TRAIT INFERENCES

Because 1 function of categorization is to provide structure and contr ol to social interactions and because individuals differ in the extent to which they desire control and structure, individual differences in personal need for structure (PNS) should moderate the extent to which people categorize. Spontaneous trait inferences (STIs) were used to a ssess the use of traits in categorization. High-PNS Ss were more likel y to form STIs and more likely to recall names of target actors in the stimulus sentences. This research provides evidence for the organizat ion of behavioral information in person nodes in circumstances where p rocessing goals did not explicitly request such organization. It also provides a link between the examination of chronic sources of motivati on and social categorization, perhaps the most fundamental social-cogn itive variable.