Why schema-violations are sometimes preferable to schema-consistencies: The role of interest and openness to experience

Małgorzata A. Gocłowska, Matthijs Baas, Andrew J. Elliot, Carsten K.W. De Dreu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

We investigated the appraisal processes and personality antecedents that regulate people's attraction to schema-violations - targets and objects that disconfirm schema- and stereotype-based expectancies. In two studies a preference for schema-violations (vs. consistencies) correlated positively with openness to experience, and negatively with the need for structure. In the second study, schema-violations were seen as more surprising (by all individuals), decreasing intentions to approach schema-violations, but were also seen as more interesting (by those higher in openness to experience), increasing intentions to approach and accept schema-violations. This suggests that two opposing processes - appraisals of surprise and appraisals of interest - regulate reactions to schema-violations, and that these processes are bounded by individual differences in openness to experience.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)54-69
Number of pages16
JournalJournal of Research in Personality
Volume66
Early online date26 Dec 2016
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 28 Feb 2017

Keywords

  • Consistency
  • Inconsistency
  • Interest
  • Need for closure
  • Need for structure
  • Openness to experience
  • Schema-violations
  • Surprise

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Social Psychology
  • General Psychology

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