Perceiver effects in person perception reflect acquiescence, positivity, and trait-specific content: evidence from a large-scale replication study
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Contributors
Abstract
Person judgments reflect perceiver effects: differences in how perceivers judge the average person. The factorial structure of such
effects is still discussed. We present a large-scale, preregistered replication study using over 1 million person judgments (different
groups of 200 perceivers judged 200 targets in one of 20 situations, using 30 personality items). Results unanimously favored a
model comprising three systematic components: acquiescence (endorsing all items more than other perceivers), positivity
(endorsing positive over negative items), and trait specificity (endorsing items reflecting a specific trait more). The latter two
factors each accounted for approximately a quarter of the variance in perceiver effects, and acquiescence accounted for less than
10%. Positivity was more influential for evaluative items and was strongly associated with how likable perceivers found their
targets to be (r =.55). With considerable statistical power and generalizability, our findings significantly improve the knowledge
base regarding the structure of perceiver effects.
effects is still discussed. We present a large-scale, preregistered replication study using over 1 million person judgments (different
groups of 200 perceivers judged 200 targets in one of 20 situations, using 30 personality items). Results unanimously favored a
model comprising three systematic components: acquiescence (endorsing all items more than other perceivers), positivity
(endorsing positive over negative items), and trait specificity (endorsing items reflecting a specific trait more). The latter two
factors each accounted for approximately a quarter of the variance in perceiver effects, and acquiescence accounted for less than
10%. Positivity was more influential for evaluative items and was strongly associated with how likable perceivers found their
targets to be (r =.55). With considerable statistical power and generalizability, our findings significantly improve the knowledge
base regarding the structure of perceiver effects.
Details
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 839-848 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Social Psychological and Personality Science |
Volume | 13 |
Issue number | 4 |
Publication status | Published - 8 Sept 2021 |
Peer-reviewed | Yes |
External IDs
Scopus | 85114521030 |
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Keywords
Keywords
- impression formation, judgement, perceiver effect, person perception