Concept formation and impressions of personality.

Abstract

SS were shown a short motion picture in which the main themes of behavior of the heroine were kindness and promiscuity. The Ss then rated the heroine on a social distance scale, and then were asked to interrelate the terms used in the scale. The Rokeach task was given to determine which Ss organized terms according to hierarchic or non-hierarchic concepts. Analysis of the data showed that Ss who articulate and relate the several essential molar features of the impression-formation material are more likely to form hierarchic concepts that Ss who articulate the field without relating the various aspects, or Ss who fail to differentiate between major field characteristics.