NEED FOR COGNITION AND THE CORRESPONDENCE BIAS

Two studies examined the relationship between need for cognition and the correspondence bias. In Experiment 1, high and low need for cognition subjects read a speech on abortion that the target was constrained to write and then rated the target's true attitude on this issue. A correspondence bias was found only in the ratings of the low need for cognition subjects. Experiment 2 replicated the results of Experiment 1 and also found that cognitive busyness tended to increase the correspondence bias for all subjects. It was concluded that need for cognition moderates the correspondence bias and that high need for cognition subjects are less prone toward this bias because they correct more adequately for situational constraints than do low need for cognition subjects.