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Inferences about character and motive influence intentionality attributions about side effects
Author(s) -
Hughes Jamie S.,
Trafimow David
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
british journal of social psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.855
H-Index - 98
eISSN - 2044-8309
pISSN - 0144-6665
DOI - 10.1111/j.2044-8309.2011.02031.x
Subject(s) - intentionality , attribution , psychology , character (mathematics) , generality , social psychology , perception , action (physics) , causal inference , social perception , cognitive psychology , epistemology , philosophy , physics , geometry , mathematics , quantum mechanics , econometrics , neuroscience , economics , psychotherapist
In two studies, we predicted and found that inferences about motive and character influence intentionality attributions about foreseeable consequences of action (i.e., side effects). First, we show that inferences about intentionality are greater for good side effects than bad side effects when a target person's character is described positively. In Study 2, we manipulated information about a target person and found that inferences about intentionality were greater when side effects were consistent with a target person's character and motives. Overall, our data cast doubt on the generality of the side‐effect effect. We discuss our findings and their implications for future research on intentionality and social perception.