1. Sara Demuzere, Vera Hoorens & Judith Maier K.U. Leuven
Gender Stereotypes do not affect Trait Transference and Trait Inference
Sara Demuzere, Vera Hoorens & Judith Maier
K.U. Leuven

2. Outline Introduction Previous research Current research Conclusion
Goal
Paradigm
Experiment
Conclusion

3. Introduction Trait Transference Trait Inference
“You are perceived as possessing the very traits
you describe in others.“
(Skowronski, Carlston, Mae, & Crawford, 1998)
Trait Inference
“You are perceived as possessing the very traits
you describe in yourself or
when someone else describes these traits in you. “
(Uleman, 1999)

4. Introduction Stingy Stingy You are too stingy to pay
He is too stingy to pay the next coffee.
You are too stingy to pay
the next coffee.
Stingy
Stingy

5. Introduction Gender Stereotypes:
- Psychological traits and characteristics stereotypical for men or women
- Example:
men are: aggressive, active, courageous, impolite
women are: empathic, emotional, careful, dependent

6. Past Research Trait Attribution Paradigm
Stereotypes affect Trait Inference
Stereotypical Inferences
(Wigboldus, Dijksterhuis, & van Knippenberg, 2003)
Influence of Cognitive Capacity
(Wigboldus, Sherman, Franzese, & van Knippenberg, 2004)
Probe Recognition Paradigm
Trait Transference insensitive to Stereotypes?
Trait Attribution Paradigm

7. Probe Recognition Paradigm
Exposure Phase
Stereotype-consistent: “The skinhead hits the saleswoman.”
Stereotype-inconsistent:”The girl hits the saleswoman.’”
Probe words
Implied but not actually included: “aggressive”
Was the word included in the preceding sentence?
Dependent variables: RTs and error rates

8. Goal Trait Attribution Paradigm Test occurrence of Trait Transference
Examine how stereotypes affect Trait Transference
Test occurrence of Trait Inference
Replicate finding that stereotypes affect Trait Inference

9. Trait Attribution Paradigm
Exposure Phase
Control
Critical
NO Trait Implied
Trait Implied
Filler Task
Trait Rating Task
Control
Critical
Implied
Congruent
Incongruent
Implied
Congruent
Incongruent

10. Exposure Phase Trait Inference Trait Transference Self Inference
Other Inference
Photographed person’s behavior (“I” form)
Photographed person’s behavior (“He/She” form)
Someone else’s behavior (“He/She” form)

11. Trait Rating Task Is the person on the picture X (implied trait) ?
Is the person on the picture Y (evaluatively congruent trait) ?
Is the person on the picture Z (evaluatively incongruent trait) ?
O O O O O O O
Not at all Completely

12. Participants & Design n = 215 (undergraduates)
2 (Trial: control vs critical)
X 3 (Attribution: self inference vs other inference
vs transference)
x 2 (Emphasis: baseline vs gender)
X 2 (Valence: desirable vs undesirable)
X 3 (Trait: stereotypically male vs stereotypically female
vs gender-neutral)
X 2 (Gender: male vs female)

13. Trait Inference and Trait Transference
Implied Traits: Effect of Trial
Mean Trait Rating
Self Inference
Other Inference
Trait Transference
Control
Critical
Control
Critical
Control
Critical
Trial
Control trials: descriptions not implying any trait
Critical trials: trait-implying descriptions

14. Trait Inference and Trait Transference=
p < 0.001
p = 0.01
Fig. 1. Mean Trait Ratings for implied traits.

15. Trait Specificity Effect of Trial Trial Self Inference Other Inference
Mean Trait Rating
Self Inference
Other Inference
Trait Transference
Implied Traits
Only!
Control
Critical
Control
Critical
Control
Critical
Trial
Control trials: descriptions not implying any trait
Critical trials: trait-implying descriptions

16. Congruent Traits: effect of Trial
Trait Specificity
Congruent Traits: effect of Trial =
p < 0.01 =
Fig. 2. Mean Congruent Trait Rating in function of Condition.
Fig. 2. Mean Trait Ratings for congruent traits.

17. Incongruent Traits: effect of Trial
Trait Specificity
Incongruent Traits: effect of Trial = = =
Fig. 3. Mean Trait Ratings for incongruent traits.

18. Effect of Valence
Fig. 3. Mean Trait Ratings for incongruent traits.

19. Trait Type x Gender of Communicator
Gender Stereotyping?
Trait Type x Gender of Communicator
Mean Judgement of Communicator
Women =
Men
Male
Neutral
Female
Type of Trait

20. Gender Stereotyping! =  Trait Type x Gender of Communicator
F(2,94) = 41.97, p <
Women
Men
Women =
Men 
Fig. 3. Mean Implied Trait Rating for the interaction between Type of Trait
and Gender of Communicator.

21. H3: Effect of Gender Stereotypes on TT
Three-way interaction between
Gender of Communicator, Type of Trait and Condition
Mean Judgement of Communicator
Male Communicators
Female Communicators
Control
Critical
Male
Neutral
Female
Male
Neutral
Female
Type of Trait
Type of Trait

22. No effect for female communicators!
Trait Type x Condition
F(2, 94) = 3.12, p < 0.05 =
Control =
Critical
Fig. 4. Mean Implied Trait Rating for the interaction between Type of Trait
and Condition

23. Partial support for male communicators!
Trait Type x Condition
F(2, 94) = 3.15, p < 0.05
Control =
Critical
Fig. 5. Mean Implied Trait Rating for the interaction between Type of Trait
and Condition

24. TT not influenced by Gender Stereotypes!
Type of Trait X Gender of Communicator X Condition
F(2, 94) = 0.27, n.s.
Male Communicators
Female Communicators
Control  =
Critical = =
Fig. 6. Mean Implied Trait Rating for the interaction between Type of Trait, Condition
and Gender of Communicator.

25. Conclusion Trait Tranference as the Actual Attribution of Traits
Trait Specificity:
Only implied traits attributed onto communicators, not evaluatively congruent traits
Strength of TT not affected by Gender Stereotypes
As compared to stereotype-irrelevance, NOT inhibited by stereotype-inconsistency
As compared to stereotype-irrelevance, NOT facilitated by stereotype-consistency

26. Further Research Different Types of Manipulation
Gender Stereotypes on Trait Inferences
Racial stereotypes on both Trait Transference and Trait Inferences

27. The End Sara.Demuzere@psy.kuleuven.be Vera.Hoorens@psy.kuleuven.be
Sara Demuzere & Vera Hoorens