Perceived changes in trait attributions to others and the self.

A study was conducted to examine the perceived changes in the impressions of others or self on 133 trait dimensions. Attributions to others were reportedly more negative over time whereas attributions to self were more positive over time. Perceived changes in others' traits appear to be guided by basic behavioral inference processes.

Stigmatized targets and evaluation: prejudice as a determinant of attribute scrutiny and polarization.

The authors provide evidence for a new mechanism for the more polarized evaluations of stigmatized than nonstigmatized target individuals that often follow positive versus negative target descriptions. The current research suggests that polarization can occur because low-prejudiced perceivers think more about information describing stigmatized than nonstigmatized targets (i.e.