Unconscious primes trigger corresponding behaviors, as in elderly and rudeness studies

Evidence

According to ideomotor explanations of behavior, unconsciously primed concepts or stereotypes increase the likelihood of behaviors that correspond to these concepts. Thinking a thought makes us more likely to do something consistent with it, and indeed, there are hundreds of studies in psychology that demonstrate such ideomotor effects. In one classic study, for example, young participants were unconsciously primed with an “elderly” stereotype (words such as Bingo, Florida, retirement). Then researchers covertly observed the participants leaving the lab. Participants who thought of the elderly stereotype walked more slowly than those who were exposed to neutral words! In another study, priming “rudeness” (rude, impolite, impatient), again without conscious awareness, increased the likelihood that participants would interrupt a conversation. — Norenzayan, Ara, Big gods - how religion transformed…, 158

Categorization

Category: Factual Claims

• SHARE: The elderly-prime walking speed study is a classic worth sharing with anyone into social psychology or behavioral priming.