Date of Graduation
Summer 7-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Psychology
Thesis Chair
William B. Erickson
Abstract
This study examined how personality traits, alert intensity, and task complexity were associated with prospective person memory (PPM) performance under varying cognitive and emotional contexts, using the Short Dark Triad (SD3) and Big Five Inventory (BFI) to assess trait-related differences in attention and memory. Each participant was randomly assigned to one of three alert types (Missing-Neutral, Missing-In Danger, Wanted-Dangerous) and one of two task complexities (4-item or 8-item grocery list). A mixed n-back task was employed as a distractor task to prevent rehearsal and increase cognitive load during the retention interval. For this study, I hypothesized that high Machiavellianism would predict higher target hit accuracy in Wanted-Dangerous alerts only, high narcissism would predict higher hit accuracy in Missing-In Danger alerts only, and psychopathy would predict lowered hit accuracy across all alert types as well as in harder task conditions.
Recommended Citation
Gooding, Stephanie, "WAIT, DO I KNOW YOU? DARK TRIAD TRAITS AS CORRELATES OF PROSPECTIVE PERSON MEMORY" (2025). Masters Theses. 44.
https://digitalcommons.tamusa.edu/masters_theses/44
Included in
Cognition and Perception Commons, Cognitive Psychology Commons, Personality and Social Contexts Commons