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 language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 54-69 |
Number of pages | 16 |
Journal | Journal of Research in Personality |
Volume | 66 |
Early online date | 26 Dec 2016 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 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