Impression Formation as a Function of Age, Sex, and Race

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Abstract
The present study examined cognitive differentiation and integration within the framework of an impression formation task, where subjects were required to form an impression of a person who displayed potentially ambivalent behaviors. Sex, age, and race were varied. Main effects as a function of age were found for both differentiation and integration. In addition, major cognitive organizational changes were observed between the ages of 10 and 12 on both measures. Although females were expected to form more differentiated and integrated impressions, this prediction was not confirmed. Racial differences among the males were obtained on the measure of cognitive integration, but not on differentiation. It was also found that the subjects who formed more integrated impressions offered more noncategorical affective responses on a checklist than the subjects who formed less integrated impressions. The findings for differentiation and integration were discussed in terms of Werner's developmental theory. Racial differences were discussed in terms of possible family background variables.