Sometimes traits are chronically accessible due to past experience.Other times,traits are accessible for more arbitrary reasons,such as what we're currently thinking.Social psychologists use the term ________ to describe the latter case.

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The term used by social psychologists to describe the arbitrary accessibility of traits due to current thoughts is priming. Priming refers to the process by which exposure to one stimulus affects the response to another stimulus, due to the activation of concepts and associations in memory. A person's thoughts and current environment can prime certain traits, making them more accessible and influential in their behavior and judgments.

Sometimes Traits Are Chronically Accessible Due to Past Experience