Abstract
An extensive literature has revealed the benefits of self-relevance during stimulus processing. Compared to material associated with other persons (e.g., friend, mother), self-relevant information elicits faster and more accurate responses (i.e., the self-prioritization effect). Probing the boundary conditions of this effect, recent research has sought to identify whether the advantages of self-relevance can be attenuated (or even eliminated) under certain circumstances. Continuing in this tradition, here we explored the extent to which basic aspects of the task design modulate self-prioritization. The results of two experiments demonstrated just such an effect. During both simultaneous (i.e., Expt. 1) and sequential (i.e., Expt. 2) versions of a standard shape-label matching task, self-prioritization was reduced when stimulus presentation was blocked (i.e., self- or friend-relevant items) compared to intermixed (i.e., self- and friend-relevant items). These findings highlight both the persistence of self-prioritization and its sensitivity to task-related variation.
DOI
10.1016/j.actpsy.2021.103350
Publication Date
2021-07-01
Publication Title
Acta Psychologica
Volume
218
Publisher
Elsevier
ISSN
0001-6918
Embargo Period
2024-11-22
Recommended Citation
Golubickis, M., & Macrae, C. (2021) 'Judging me and you: Task design modulates self-prioritization', Acta Psychologica, 218. Elsevier: Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2021.103350
