Cognitive Complexity as a Function of the Significance of the Stimulus Objects being Judged

Abstract

The question was raised as to whether cognitive complexity (CC) would vary as a function of the stimulus objects being judged. REP Test protocols of 126 Ss were analyzed in terms of two clusters of role models that differed in regard to their social distance from the judge. A significant difference in CC was found; socially distant people were differentiated more complexly than socially close people. The results were interpreted within the context of a “vigilance” hypothesis wherein complex differentiation serves an adaptive function in terms of anticipating the behavior of more remote and possibly more threatening persons.

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