Solomon Asch (1946) gave participants in his study a list of characteristics about a person they never met. One group read a list indicating the person was intelligent, industrious, impulsive, critical, stubborn, and envious. The second group read the same list in reverse order (i.e., envious, stubborn, critical, etc.). What was the outcome of this study?
A) Both groups formed positive impressions of the person.
B) Both groups formed negative impressions of the person.
C) The group who read the list starting with positive characteristics (i.e., intelligent, industrious, etc.) rated their person more positively than the group who read the list starting with the negative characteristics.
D) The group who read the list starting with positive characteristics (i.e., intelligent, industrious, etc.) rated their person more negatively than the group who read the list starting with the negative characteristics.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The study by Solomon Asch demonstrated the primacy effect, where information presented first has a greater impact on our perception. The group that read positive traits first formed a more positive impression than the group that started with negative traits.

Solomon Asch (1946) Gave Participants in His Study a List