The role of recollection in evaluative conditioning

Halbeisen, Georg; Blask, Katarina; Weil, Rebecca; Walther, Eva

Abstract

Attitudes are a core construct of social psychology, and research showed that attitudes can be acquired by merely pairing neutral stimuli with other liked or disliked stimuli (i.e., evaluative conditioning, EC). In this research we address the role of different memory processes contributing to EC. Although it is commonly found that memory for the pairings increases EC, we argue that memory performance data obtained in the standard paradigm remain ambiguous. We hypothesize that memory for stimulus pairings may moderate EC by means of an intentional use of conscious recollection as well as through unintended effects of memory. In two experiments we used modified memory tests that distinguish between these different memory processes on an item-level by identifying recollection as the participant's ability to control memory performance. The analyses of the experiments showed that both intended and unintended influences independently moderate EC. Based on these results we discuss the role of different memory processes in EC, and how memory and learning processes may be related. © 2014 Elsevier Inc.

Citation

Halbeisen, G., Blask, K., Weil, R., & Walther, E. (2014). The role of recollection in evaluative conditioning. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 55, 162-168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2014.07.005

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 2, 2014
• Online Publication Date: Jul 11, 2014
• Publication Date: 2014-11
• Deposit Date: May 11, 2019
• Journal: Journal of Experimental Social Psychology
• Print ISSN: 0022-1031
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 55
• Pages: 162-168
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2014.07.005
• Keywords: Evaluative conditioning; Attitude; Source awareness; Contingency awareness
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/597201
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022103114001036?via%3Dihub