Abstract: The present study adopted a false recognition paradigm to explore the impact of psychological distance on spontaneous trait inferences (STI). Experiment 1 use 2 (pair type: picture-can be inferred trait words, picture-can’t be inferred trait words) × 2 (spatial distance: near, distant) mixed design. Then they were asked to decide whether they had seen the trait words in the previous sentence about this person to explore the formation of spontaneous trait inference. The results showed that, perceivers form more STI about spatially distal actors vs. spatially proximal actors. Experiment 2 use 2 (pair type: picture-can be inferred trait words, picture-can’t be inferred trait words) × 2 (temporal distance: near, distant) mixed design, participants’ response was the same as Experiment 1. The results showed that, perceivers form more STI about temporally distal (vs. proximal) actors. In sum, distant psychological distance facilitates STI formation compared with proximal psychological distance, results were discussed within the framework of construal level theory(CLT).

Key words: spontaneous trait inference, construal level theory, psychological distance

摘要： 采用错误再认范式，考察了心理距离是否影响个体对他人行为的自发特质推理。实验1采用2（配对类型：图片-可推测的特质词、图片-不可推测的特质词）× 2（空间距离：近、远）的混合设计，要求被试判断特质词是否在前面的行为句中出现过，以探讨自发特质推理形成情况。结果表明，与近空间距离相比，被试对远空间心理距离的行为主体产生了更多的自发特质推理。实验2采用2（配对类型：图片-可推测的特质词、图片-不可推测的特质词）× 2（时间距离：近、远）的混合设计，被试反应与实验1相同。结果发现，与近时间心理距离相比，被试对远时间心理距离的行为主体产生了更多的自发特质推理。实验结果提示远心理距离比近心理距离更利于自发特质推理，并在解释水平理论的框架内对结果进行了讨论。

关键词: 自发特质推理, 解释水平理论, 心理距离