Can language intent be non-consciously primed when in a monologue or is an interlocutor necessary?

Abstract

Abstract The current study integrates studies of priming and communication to investigate whether an interlocutor is necessary for successful communication, and whether language intent can be non-consciously primed to be helpful. Previous research has shown social behaviour to be automatically activated using the methodology of priming (Herr 1986; Bargh 1990; Ferguson & Bargh 2004; Chartrand 1996; Epley & Goldvich 1999). Priming of linguistic production, an essential feature of social interaction has been found to facilitate communication (Bock 1980; Haywood, Pickering & Branigan, 2000). Word search tasks (Bargh, Gollwitzer, Lee-Chai, Barndollar &Trotschel, 2001) were employed as the priming manipulation containing helpful, unhelpful or neutral words. The subsequent task, utilised methodology of Clark and Wilkes-Gibbs (1986) consisting of a referential communication task using a sequence of complex figures, which participants described in monologue. We explored whether or not there was a difference in language produced in three primed conditions; helpfulness, unhelpfulness and neutral. Our results found contrasting results to previous social priming research; the priming manipulations did not have a significant effect on language intent. However, we interpret these results as support dialogue being necessary for successful communication and understanding (Garrod & Pickering 2004; Pickering & Garrod 2004; Clark and Wilkes-Gibbs 1986; Garrod & Anderson 1987).