Like Mike: Ability contagion through touched objects increases confidence and improves performance

Thomas Kramer and Lauren G. Block

Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 2014, vol. 124, issue 2, 215-228

Abstract: Magical thinking refers to irrational peculiar beliefs, including those that conform to the laws of contagion. We propose that touching an object that was previously touched by a high performer increases confidence via magical thinking (ability contagion) and improves actual performance among individuals high in experiential processing. A series of studies provides support for this main proposition. Our results cast doubt on an alternative explanation based on priming, and are obtained controlling for participants’ level of rational processing, motivation, and affect.

Keywords: Magical thinking; Contagion; Performance; Creativity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jobhdp:v:124:y:2014:i:2:p:215-228

DOI: 10.1016/j.obhdp.2014.03.009

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