Memory effects of processing agentic and communal information

Two studies investigated the memory consequences of focusing on agentic and communal content in perception of others. Previous studies showed that concrete processing increases the importance of agentic qualities in the perception of others, while abstract processing increases the importance of communal traits in the perception of others. Since concrete processing turns attention to details of the perceptual field it was predicted and confirmed that focusing on agency of perceived person leads to a better memory of details connected with that person comparing to focusing on one᾿s communal qualities. Additionally, the results of Study 2 indicate that level of processing is the plausible mediator of the effect. peerReviewed publishedVersion