The stability of the assumed similarity response set in repressors and sensitizers.

The research reported in the article was designed to explore some relationships with reference to the behavior of repressors and sensitizers. The other variables studied in this investigation were: nature of the stimulus, set to predict, and exposure to the stimulus. There are thus several different response tendencies which may lead to the same level of predictive accuracy. If definitive knowledge is to be acquired about the dynamics of interpersonal prediction, it is necessary to uncover and assess the role of response tendencies because of the ambiguity otherwise involved in accuracy measures. Particular levels and directions of response tendencies may vary as a function of the nature of the predictor, characteristics of the stimulus object, exposure time of the stimulus, predictor motivation, etc. A statement of accuracy of prediction is thus ultimately derivable from a knowledge of the relationships among these basic factors which determine the level and direction of response tendency, together with a knowledge of the nature of the predicted object. In these terms, the question of veridicality of interpersonal perception is ultimately a question of the rate at which response tendencies change as a function of changes in the stimulus along various dimensions, and as a function of changes in the predicting or perceiving individual.