THE USE OF ABSTRACT TRAIT KNOWLEDGE AND BEHAVIORAL EXEMPLARS IN CAUSAL EXPLANATIONS OF BEHAVIOR

Both classic and contemporary models of causal reasoning suggest that we retrieve examples of an actor's past behavior from memory when expl aining his or her current behavior A variety of other research suggest s that we rely on abstract trait knowledge rather than on behavioral e xemplars when making such judgments. The authors conducted three exper iments that examined which type of information (abstract trait knowled ge or behavioral exemplars) was spontaneously used during causal reaso ning when both types of information were available. Results indicated that although abstract trait knowledge generally served as the basis f or causal judgment behavioral exemplars were used if they were easily accessible and participants were motivated to engage in effortful proc essing. The authors discuss how the use of abstract traits versus beha vioral exemplars may serve to maintain or alter existing person impres sions.