Feedback shapes snap judgments: Toward a dynamic model of making social judgments

In two studies, we undermined participants' confidence in snap judgments regarding others' morality based on facial photos by using an interactive computer program in which No, Low, or High Accuracy feedback was given. Study 1 demonstrated that in comparison to a No Feedback condition, Low Accuracy feedback led to increased time spent in generating further snap judgments and undermined beliefs regarding the reliability of one's social judgments. Study 2 replicated the findings of Study 1 and further showed that such an increase in time spent on generating subsequent snap judgments is evident primarily among participants whose preliminary snap judgments were long, as measured at baseline. Undermined confidence in snap judgments increased reluctance to make snap judgments about new targets' morality, but had no impact on willingness to make snap judgments about these new targets' other characteristics that were unrelated to morality. These findings demonstrate that making snap judgments is a dynamic process that is continuously shaped by external feedback.