Effects of Self-Schema on Assumptions about and Processing of Schema-Consistent Traits of other Persons

Abstract

Whether self-schema may be a personality variable that affects assumptions about and processing of schema-consistent traits of other persons was investigated. Respondents classified as schematic and aschematic rated the schema-consistent traits of unfamiliar stimulus persons and familiar stimulus persons. The former relative to the latter (1) had higher mean ratings of unfamiliar but not of familiar stimulus persons, as predicted; (2) did not differ in their variances of ratings of unfamiliar but had larger variances for ratings of familiar stimulus persons, as predicted; and (3) did not differ in correlations between ratings of unfamiliar stimulus persons but had larger correlations between ratings of familiar ones, not as predicted. Some limitations of this study and suggestions for research were discussed.