Automaticity of Everyday Life

Lectures 5 & 6:Automaticity of Everyday Life

Bargh, J.A., & Chartrand, T.L. (1999). The unbearable automaticity of Bargh, J.A., & Chartrand, T.L. (1999). The unbearable automaticity of being. being. American PsychologistAmerican Psychologist, , 5454, 462-479. , 462-479.

Dijksterhuis, A., & Bargh, J.A. (2001). The perception-behavior Dijksterhuis, A., & Bargh, J.A. (2001). The perception-behavior expressway: Automatic effects of social perception on social behavior. expressway: Automatic effects of social perception on social behavior. Advances in Experimental Social PsychologyAdvances in Experimental Social Psychology , , 3333, 1-40., 1-40.

Lakin, J.L., Jefferis, V.E., Cheng, C.M., & Chartrand, T.L. (2003). The Lakin, J.L., Jefferis, V.E., Cheng, C.M., & Chartrand, T.L. (2003). The chameleon effect as social glue: Evidence for the evolutionary significance chameleon effect as social glue: Evidence for the evolutionary significance of nonconscious mimicry. of nonconscious mimicry. Journal of Nonverbal BehaviorJournal of Nonverbal Behavior , , 2727, 145-162., 145-162.

Lecture 5 – Behavioural PrimingLecture 5 – Behavioural Priming

Lecture 6 – Nonconscious Mimicry Lecture 6 – Nonconscious Mimicry

Varieties of Automatic Behaviour

Action Priming Interpersonal Mimicry

Automaticity:A Framework For Thinking About Mental Life

• the case of the daydreaming driver!

• components of mental life

automatic vs. controlled processes (Bargh, 1989)

• 4 ‘horsemen’ of automaticity

awareness

intention

efficiency

control

The Ecology of Automaticity

• So what exactly is an automatic process?So what exactly is an automatic process?

• Are we aware of the causes of behavior?Are we aware of the causes of behavior?

AwarenessAwareness

3 ways in which we may be unaware of a mental process3 ways in which we may be unaware of a mental process

Awareness

• we may be unaware of the presence of a stimulus (e.g., subliminal we may be unaware of the presence of a stimulus (e.g., subliminal priming).priming).

• we may be unaware of the way in which a stimulus has been we may be unaware of the way in which a stimulus has been interpreted or categorized.interpreted or categorized.

• we may be unaware of factors (e.g., stimulus appraisal) that influence we may be unaware of factors (e.g., stimulus appraisal) that influence our behaviour.our behaviour.

So what role does awareness play in the elicitation of behaviour?So what role does awareness play in the elicitation of behaviour?

Intentionality:

• the intentionality aspect of automaticity refers to how much control we the intentionality aspect of automaticity refers to how much control we have over our thoughts and behaviour. Intentionality has to do with have over our thoughts and behaviour. Intentionality has to do with whether we are in control of the instigation of a process.whether we are in control of the instigation of a process.

So do intentions give rise to our everyday actions and behaviours? Might So do intentions give rise to our everyday actions and behaviours? Might our behavior be purposive, yet unintended?our behavior be purposive, yet unintended?

Efficiency:

• the efficiency component of automaticity refers to the extent to which a mental process demands attentional resources for its execution. To the extent that it does, it may not occur when the attentional demands of a situation are high (e.g., dual tasking)

So is everyday behaviour efficient or can it be disrupted by concurrent tasks?

Controllability:

• controllability generally refers to the extent to which one is aware of controllability generally refers to the extent to which one is aware of the impact of a stimulus and whether one is able to counteract (i.e., the impact of a stimulus and whether one is able to counteract (i.e., control) the effect of the stimulus on one’s behaviour.control) the effect of the stimulus on one’s behaviour.

So is everyday action controllable?So is everyday action controllable?

The Lights Are On:But is There Anybody Home?

““much of everyday life - thinking, feeling, and doing - is automatic in that it much of everyday life - thinking, feeling, and doing - is automatic in that it is driven by current features of the environment (i.e., people, objects, is driven by current features of the environment (i.e., people, objects, behaviors of others, settings, roles, norms, etc.) as mediated by automatic behaviors of others, settings, roles, norms, etc.) as mediated by automatic cognitive processing of those features, without any mediation by conscious cognitive processing of those features, without any mediation by conscious choice or reflection.”choice or reflection.”

Bargh (1997, p. 2)Bargh (1997, p. 2)

If-Then Conditionals

• the power of the power of if-thenif-then conditionals (Anderson, 1992; Bargh, 1989) conditionals (Anderson, 1992; Bargh, 1989)

• if X (i.e., environmental feature), then Y (i.e., action)if X (i.e., environmental feature), then Y (i.e., action)

red light - then - brakered light - then - brake

elderly person - then - ?elderly person - then - ?

The Perception-Behaviour Link

• principle of ideomotor action (James, 1890)principle of ideomotor action (James, 1890)

thinking (consciously) about an action activates the tendency to thinking (consciously) about an action activates the tendency to engage in the behaviour (e.g., getting out of bed). engage in the behaviour (e.g., getting out of bed).

Common Coding Hypothesis

• representing action tendencies in the mindrepresenting action tendencies in the mind

• common coding hypothesiscommon coding hypothesis (Prinz, 1990) (Prinz, 1990)

one’s mental representations (e.g., vanilla ice cream) contain not only one’s mental representations (e.g., vanilla ice cream) contain not only related semantic information (e.g., cold, tasty), but also applicable related semantic information (e.g., cold, tasty), but also applicable behavioral information (e.g., eat with fudge sauce). Thus, when the behavioral information (e.g., eat with fudge sauce). Thus, when the representation is activated, accessible action tendencies guide one’s representation is activated, accessible action tendencies guide one’s behaviour in particular directions.behaviour in particular directions.

So can behavior be elicited automatically?So can behavior be elicited automatically?

Automatic Action:Some Early Evidence

Do aggressive cues make people aggressive?

Carver et al. (1983)

• ‘‘shocking’ the confederateshocking’ the confederate

in a first study, allegedly unrelated to the critical in a first study, allegedly unrelated to the critical experiment, the concept of hostility was primed for some experiment, the concept of hostility was primed for some participants. Then, in what was purportedly an unrelated participants. Then, in what was purportedly an unrelated experiment, participants were told to give shocks to another experiment, participants were told to give shocks to another person (confederate) when he or she gave an incorrect person (confederate) when he or she gave an incorrect answer to a question. Those primed with hostility-related answer to a question. Those primed with hostility-related words gave longer shocks to the confederate than did words gave longer shocks to the confederate than did non-non-

primed participantsprimed participants

• ouch! but do these effects emerge in other domains?ouch! but do these effects emerge in other domains?

Automatic Action:(Bargh et al., 1996)

• Expt 1 - Priming Trait ConstructsExpt 1 - Priming Trait Constructs

Phase 1:Phase 1: scrambled sentence task - prime ‘rudeness’ or ‘politeness’ or scrambled sentence task - prime ‘rudeness’ or ‘politeness’ or neither construct.neither construct.

assertiveassertive patientpatient

ruderude politepolite

disturbdisturb respectfulrespectful

Phase 2:Phase 2: walk down the hall to take part in an walk down the hall to take part in an

unrelated experiment, but the experimenter isunrelated experiment, but the experimenter is

talking to someone (for a maximum of 10 mins)talking to someone (for a maximum of 10 mins)

How many participants interrupt the conversation?How many participants interrupt the conversation?

Rude primeRude prime == 67%67%

Polite primePolite prime == 16%16%

Priming the Elderly

• Expt 2 - Priming StereotypesExpt 2 - Priming Stereotypes

Phase 1Phase 1 - scrambled sentence task - scrambled sentence task

forgetfulforgetful awkwardawkward

FloridaFlorida CaliforniaCalifornia

bingobingo trickytricky

(category)(category) (control)(control)

• Phase 2Phase 2 - walking down the hall (40 feet) - walking down the hall (40 feet)

time taken to make the journeytime taken to make the journey

elderly condition = 8.26selderly condition = 8.26s

control condition = 7.30scontrol condition = 7.30s

Thus, elicitation of action associated with the elderly. But there’s Thus, elicitation of action associated with the elderly. But there’s more!!!more!!!

Invisible Faces

• Expt 3Expt 3 - Priming Affective Responses - Priming Affective Responses

color-counting task (pre-tested as boring)color-counting task (pre-tested as boring)

subliminal priming - black or white facessubliminal priming - black or white faces

masking stimulus (odd/even number of circles)masking stimulus (odd/even number of circles)

130130thth trial - error message appears on the screen trial - error message appears on the screen

the task must be repeatedthe task must be repeated

participants are videotapedparticipants are videotaped

How did participants respond to being told that the task How did participants respond to being told that the task must be repeated?must be repeated?

rated hostility (5-point scale)rated hostility (5-point scale)

white faces =white faces = 2.132.13

black faces =black faces = 2.792.79

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?Dijksterhuis & Van Knippenberg (1998)

The Professor and the Secretary

• Priming Stereotypes (Expt 1)Priming Stereotypes (Expt 1)

Phase 1:Phase 1: thought listing (5 mins) thought listing (5 mins)

professorprofessor

secretarysecretary

controlcontrol

Phase 2:Phase 2: 42 Trivial Pursuit Questions 42 Trivial Pursuit Questions

Who painted La Guernica?Who painted La Guernica?

(A) Dali, (B) Miro, (C) Picasso, or (D) Velasquez (A) Dali, (B) Miro, (C) Picasso, or (D) Velasquez

Task PerformanceTask Performance

professorprofessor == 59.5%59.5%

secretarysecretary == 46.4%46.4%

controlcontrol == 49.9%49.9%

How Stupid Can You Be?

• Strength of PrimingStrength of Priming

Phase 1Phase 1 - Thought Listing - Thought Listing

soccer hooligan (2 or 9 mins)soccer hooligan (2 or 9 mins)

control (no prime)control (no prime)

Which country hosted the 1990 World Cup?Which country hosted the 1990 World Cup?

(A) USA, (B) Mexico, (C) Spain, or (D) Italy(A) USA, (B) Mexico, (C) Spain, or (D) Italy

Task PerformanceTask Performance

soccer hooligan (2 mins)soccer hooligan (2 mins) == 48.6%48.6%

soccer hooligan (9 mins)soccer hooligan (9 mins) == 43.1%43.1%

control (no prime)control (no prime) == 49.9%49.9%

Thus, strength of the effect is moderated by the nature of the priming Thus, strength of the effect is moderated by the nature of the priming experience.experience.

Silence in the Library:Aarts & Dijksterhuis (2003)

• Priming Silence (Expt 1)Priming Silence (Expt 1)

Phase 1:Phase 1: picture description task picture description task

library (you will visit) – ‘library goal’ primelibrary (you will visit) – ‘library goal’ prime

railway platform (you will visit) – ‘control goal’ primerailway platform (you will visit) – ‘control goal’ prime

library (you will not visit) – ‘no-goal library’ primelibrary (you will not visit) – ‘no-goal library’ prime

Phase 2: Lexical Decision Task (accessibility of words related to Phase 2: Lexical Decision Task (accessibility of words related to silence)silence)

library-goal prime = 524 mslibrary-goal prime = 524 ms

control-goal prime = 578 mscontrol-goal prime = 578 ms

no-goal library prime = 568 msno-goal library prime = 568 ms

• Producing Silence (Expt 2)Producing Silence (Expt 2)

Phase 1:Phase 1: picture description task picture description task

library (you will visit) – ‘library goal’ primelibrary (you will visit) – ‘library goal’ prime

railway platform (you will visit) – ‘control goal’ primerailway platform (you will visit) – ‘control goal’ prime

library (you will not visit) – ‘no-goal library’ primelibrary (you will not visit) – ‘no-goal library’ prime

Phase 2: Pronounce 10 words (record voice intensity dB(A))Phase 2: Pronounce 10 words (record voice intensity dB(A))

library-goal prime = 83.16 dBlibrary-goal prime = 83.16 dB

control-goal prime = 84.48 dBcontrol-goal prime = 84.48 dB

no-goal library prime = 84.62 dBno-goal library prime = 84.62 dB

Automatic Action:Some Boundary Conditions

Automatic Action and Inaction

• lets ‘prime’ kissing (who do you kiss?)lets ‘prime’ kissing (who do you kiss?)

• architecture of cognitionarchitecture of cognition

resolving conflict (Norman & Shallice, 1986)resolving conflict (Norman & Shallice, 1986)

regulating automatic actionregulating automatic action

leaving the moviesleaving the movies

kissing the bosskissing the boss

inhibitioninhibition

A Few Words From William James

““we have so many ideas that do not result in action. But it will be seen that we have so many ideas that do not result in action. But it will be seen that in every such case, without exception, that is because other ideas present in every such case, without exception, that is because other ideas present simultaneously rob them of their impulsive power.”simultaneously rob them of their impulsive power.”

James (1890, p. 525)James (1890, p. 525)

Help, I Need Somebody:Macrae and Johnston (1998)

• Phase 1Phase 1 - Scrambled Sentence Task - Scrambled Sentence Task

helpfulnesshelpfulness

no-primeno-prime

• Phase 2Phase 2 - The Clumsy Experimenter - The Clumsy Experimenter

regular pensregular pens

leaking pensleaking pens

• did participants offer assistance?did participants offer assistance?

PrimePrime

HelpingHelping ControlControl

regular pensregular pens 93.7%93.7% 68.7%68.7%

leaking pensleaking pens 6.2%6.2% 12.5%12.5%

Expt 2:On Resisting Assisting

• Phase 1Phase 1 - Scrambled Sentence Task - Scrambled Sentence Task

helpfulnesshelpfulness

no-primeno-prime

• Phase 2Phase 2 - Moving To The Next Experiment - Moving To The Next Experiment

running on schedulerunning on schedule

5 mins behind schedule5 mins behind schedule

• did participants offer assistance (regular pens)?did participants offer assistance (regular pens)?

PrimePrime

HelpingHelping ControlControl

on timeon time 100%100% 75%75%

running laterunning late 12.5%12.5% 12.5%12.5%

Summary

Things Worth KnowingThings Worth Knowing

1.1. What is automaticity? What is automaticity?

2.2. Process and consequences of behavioral priming.Process and consequences of behavioral priming.

Next WeekNext Week

1. Interpersonal Mimicry1. Interpersonal Mimicry