On the Road to the Unconscious Self: Understanding when People Gain Self–knowledge of Implicit Disgust Sensitivity from Behavioural Cues

On the basis of an integration of dual–process models of information processing and the lens model framework of person perception, we conducted two studies to investigate whether self–perceivers could detect their implicit disposition from video feedback of behavioural cues and whether these cues were used for explicit dispositional inferences under conditions that maximized the presumed self–perception process. Using an approach that differed from previous research, we used the following: (i) a more detailed and stepwise self–perception procedure; (ii) a specific explicit measure compared with a global explicit measure; and (iii) disgust sensitivity as a domain with clear, unambiguous cues and an assumed low self–presentation bias. The results from two studies (N = 117 and N = 130) on disgust sensitivity provide the first evidence for the assumed process with regard to bodily reaction cues but not with regard to facial expression cues. These novel findings suggest that people can get to know their unconscious selves better if supporting conditions are met and the right behavioural cues are attended to. Additional boundary conditions of this self–perception process were investigated using display rules and need for closure in Study 2. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.