Use of Long-Term Memory in Impression Formation

Abstract

Based on a dual-process theory of memory, it was hypothesized that the primacy effects often observed in impression-formation studies are due to a reliance on information in long-term, as opposed to short-term, memory storage. Variables which have been shown to affect either long-term or short-term memory were therefore manipulated in two impression-formation experiments. It was found that a delay following stimulus presentation (which reduces short-term memory) had no effect on impressions while inclusion of an irrelevant task during stimulus presentation (which reduces long-term memory) significantly reduced the degree of impression primacy.