A schematic model of dispositional attribution in interpersonal perception.
Abstract
Previous research on dispositional attribution has failed to take into account how the inference process may be affected by variations in schematic representation of dispositional attributes. A schema is denned here as a set of implicational links between dispositional levels and categories of relevant behaviors. Three general schemata are discussed—the partially restrictive schema, the hierarchically restrictive schema, and the fully restrictive schema—each having different implications for the rules of inference employed in making attributions based on observed behaviors. Relevant research on utilization of information regarding consensus, situational context, and actor's past behavior is reviewed in this framework.
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It is much less plausible that someone who is not athletic but is motivated to appear to be a good athlete could behave in a very athletic fashion for any length of time than that someone motivated to appear culturally literate could act culturally literate during a brief interaction.
“Whereas virtually anyone who is motivated to deceive another by appearing to be culturally literate, for example, could act in a culturally literate manner during a brief interaction (if given some time to prepare), it is much less plausible that someone who is not athletic but is motivated to appear to be a good athlete could behave in a very athletic fashion for any length of time”
From Suspicion and Dispositional Inference (1993) · cites this paper as Reeder & Brewer, 1979
A first impression of a partner can bias the way we process interactions with them.
“For example, a first impression of a partner can bias the way we process interactions with them 80.”
From The social brain and reward: Social information processing in the human striatum (2014) · cites this paper as [80]
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- Authors
- Reeder, G. D., & Brewer, M. B.
- Affiliations
- Illinois State University (US)
- Venue
- Psychological Review
- Published
- 1979-01
- Volume
- 86
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 61-79
- ISSN
- 0033-295X (ISSN-L)
- 1939-1471
- OpenAlex
- W2036781493
- Cited by
- 723
- References
- 49
- Citations by year
- 2026: 12 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 26 · 2022: 29 · 2021: 26 · 2020: 30 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 25 · 2016: 19 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 30 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 24
- FWCI
- 36.10
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychological Review (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Traits and Psychology
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Psychology of Moral and Emotional Judgment
- Keywords
- dispositional attribution, interpersonal perception, schema theory, consensus information, situational context, past behavior
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