Effect of compatibility between conscious goal and nonconscious priming on performance

Abstract : Goal pursuit can involve deliberate and conscious processes, but can also occur automatically and nonconsciously, following the priming of specific contents. The way in which priming and conscious goals combine remains unresolved. We investigated the effect of goal-compatible or goal-incompatible priming on the pursuit of a conscious goal. Participants 1) were primed with accuracy-related words or inaccuracy-related words, 2) were given an instruction of accuracy (i.e. a conscious goal), and 3) performed an unskilled motor task. Results indicated that both nonconscious priming and conscious goal influence motor performance. Effects of priming and conscious goal pursuit are additive when contents are compatible and subtractive when they are incompatible.