Priming
Priming is the influence of an earlier stimulus on subsequent processing, evaluation, or response, often without full awareness of this influence.
Definition
In psychology, priming means that prior exposure to a stimulus can facilitate or guide later cognitive responses. It may concern words, images, emotions, categories and associations. It is worth using this concept with caution, because not all popular claims about priming have equally strong empirical support.
Key ideas
- Effect of prior stimulus
- Activation of associations
- Interpretive caution
Practice and life
Before important work, consciously set starting stimuli: a clean desk, a specific document, one goal and turning off distractions.
Common misconceptions
It is a mistake to treat priming as a magical manipulation of behavior. The influence of context exists, but it depends on conditions and does not always work mechanically the same.
> What happened a moment ago can shape the way we see what is now.
> — Guru Element
Questions for self-reflection
- What stimuli set my mood and way of thinking?
- Was there anything suggested to me before my decision?
- How can I consciously prepare the context of action?