Using a Memory Paradigm to Test the Nature of Representation of Sex Roles within Long-Term Memory

Abstract

Abstract: Using a memory paradigm, an experiment were conducted to investigate potential gender differences in the self-reference effect, and to test whether the nature of representation of the self within long-term memory is different between two gender groups. The experiment was a 2(subject)×2(material)×2(processing task)factorial design. The results of the experiment showed that the recall performance of self-reference task was significantly higher than that of semantic processing task, thus confirming the self-reference effect of memory processing. In the two encoding conditions, the recall performances about masculine and feminine traits have an interaction, that is, in the self-reference condition, men′s recall performance about masculine traits was more than that about feminine traits, women′s recall performance about feminine traits was more than that about masculine traits; while in the semantic processing condition, no matter for men or women, the recall performances about masculine and feminine traits showed no significant difference.

Key words: memory, self, self-reference effect, sex role

摘要： 记忆的自我参照效应实验范式,常被用来探讨自我概念长时记忆表征问题。不同于以往研究,本研究将作为记忆材料的人格词汇区分为两种性别特征,以此来探讨自我概念长时记忆表征的性别化问题。实验设计为2（被试：男性与女性）×2（编码方式：自我参照编码与语义编码）×2（记忆项目类别：男性特征人格词汇与女性特征人格词汇）的混合因素设计。首先,实验结果进一步验证了自我参照效应的存在。其次,研究发现男性被试对于男性特征人格词汇的自我参照效应,显著高于女性特征人格词汇;女性被试的情况正好相反。实验结果表明,自我概念长时记忆表征系统对那些与自我性别相一致的人格特征词汇有比较好的组织编码形式,反映出自我对性别的认同。

关键词: 记忆, 自我, 自我参照效应, 性别角色

CLC Number:

B842

Yang Zhixin,Wang Yulin. Using a Memory Paradigm to Test the Nature of Representation of Sex Roles within Long-Term Memory[J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2015, 13(1): 18-24.

杨志新,汪玉林. 自我概念长时记忆表征的性别特征：自我参照实验范式的检验[J]. 心理与行为研究, 2015, 13(1): 18-24.

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