Single Category Implicit Association Test Research Articles

Storytelling in online shops: the impacts on explicit and implicit user experience, brand perceptions and behavioral intention

PurposeThis paper examines in detail how the use of storytelling with parallax technology can influence the user experience (UX) in online shops as well as brand- and behavior-relevant variables. Furthermore, this study analyzes the causal relationships between UX, brand attitudes and brand-related behavioral intentions in terms of purchase intention and price premiums. Explicit and implicit paths of human information processing are considered.Design/methodology/approachA sample of 266 respondents completed a web-based experiment under two conditions (text-based vs parallax storytelling online shop). An existing and operational online shop was used. The causal relationships were assessed by using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). To measure implicit information processing, a single category implicit association test was applied.FindingsBy applying the storytelling technique with parallax scrolling, the online shop increased visitors' UX on explicit and implicit information processing levels and increased the online shop's overall perceived attractiveness. Storytelling with parallax motion enables an efficient transmission of brand-related associations to consumers' minds, enhances their explicit and implicit brand attitudes and increases their willingness to pay a higher price. Moreover, this study provides empirical evidence on the effects of UX on brand-related measures by applying PLS-SEM and thus reveals a causal chain of effects from UX on online shop attractiveness, brand attitude and behavioral intentions. Again, explicit and implicit perceptions were considered.Originality/valueScience and practice are increasingly emphasizing that storytelling emotionalizes content, which facilitates effective communication and builds strong relationships with customers. Little evidence exists about its efficient implementation in an online shopping context and in fulfilling hedonic and pragmatic needs throughout the online journey. This study provides novel insights into managing online shoppers' UX, brand-related perceptions and behavioral intentions with the optimal use of techniques to implement storytelling. Furthermore, this is one of the first studies to holistically consider the human perception of online shops by drawing on theories and methods of psychology, marketing, consumer behavior, brand research and consumer neuroscience and considering explicit and implicit information processing in terms of hedonic and pragmatic UX and brand-related measures.

Explicit and implicit attitudes toward people with COVID-19: Need for community mental health services

During the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, social stigmatization of people who have been infected with the virus has been observed. This study measured the degree of social stigma by examining implicit and explicit attitudes toward people with COVID-19. Explicit attitudes were measured through self-reporting, taking into account the three components of behavior, cognition, and emotion, and we used the Single-Category Implicit Association Test to assess implicit attitudes. The findings show that explicit attitudes toward people with COVID-19 were positive, whereas implicit attitudes trended toward being negative. The results suggest that mental health services and policies are needed to reduce social stigma and prevent the risk of mental health problems among people who have been infected with COVID-19.

Explicitly and implicitly measured valence and risk attitudes towards plastic packaging, plastic waste, and microplastic in a German sample

Within society, problem awareness related to plastic pollution is high. Nevertheless, plastic production and consumption is constantly increasing. Plastic consumption expresses two sides of a coin: consumers appreciate plastic packaging for its practicability and other benefits, likewise they also experience concern especially related to pollution with waste and microplastic. In the current work, we systematically investigated valence- (Study 1; sample size [ N ] = 103) and risk- (Study 2; N = 105) related attitudes towards plastic packaging, plastic waste, and microplastic. Therefore, we measured participants’ attitudes implicitly and explicitly. By using single-category implicit association tests, we revealed that packaging and microplastic were automatically evaluated as ‘bad’ and neutral regarding risk, and waste as ‘bad’ and ‘risky’. Explicit responses in both studies highlighted an overall negative evaluation of all plastic forms. Thereby, packaging was rated as less ‘bad’, ‘unpleasant’, ‘unpractical’, and ‘risky’ (in general and for the environment) than waste and microplastic. The latter was evaluated as much riskier for human health than packaging and waste. Environmental risk ratings were generally very high. In comparison to other materials (paper, glass, metal), plastic was generally rated as worse and riskier. We conclude that attitudes related to plastic mirror high problem awareness and, therefore, plastic-reduction interventions should support consumers in acting according to their attitudes rather than addressing only awareness and attitude change.

Examining the Relationship Between Exercise-Related Cognitive Errors, Exercise Schema, and Implicit Associations.

To better understand exercise-related cognitive errors (ECEs) from a dual processing perspective, the purpose of this study was to examine their relationship to two automatic exercise processes. It was hypothesized that ECEs would account for more variance than automatic processes in predicting intentions, that ECEs would interact with automatic processes to predict intentions, and that exercise schema would distinguish between different levels of ECEs. Adults (N = 136, Mage = 29 years, 42.6% women) completed a cross-sectional study and responded to three survey measures (ECEs, exercise self-schema, and exercise intentions) and two computerized implicit tasks (the approach/avoid task and single-category Implicit Association Test). ECEs were not correlated with the two implicit measures; however, ECEs moderated the relationship between approach tendency toward exercise stimuli and exercise intentions. Exercise self-schema were differentiated by ECE level. This study expands our knowledge of ECEs by examining their relationship to different automatic and reflective processes.

Implicit and Explicit Self-Identification as a Drug User in People Who Used Heroin and Methamphetamine.

Implicit and explicit self-identification as a drug user specific to the substance used (e.g., viewing oneself as a drinker) have been examined, as they relate to that drug use. However, studies have rarely explored whether identifying as a “drug user” differs implicitly and explicitly for people who use different drugs and how this identification relates to drug-use behaviors or abstinence. This study examined implicit and explicit self-identification as a “drug user” and their associations with drug-use behaviors and abstinence in people who used heroin (PWUH) and people who used methamphetamine (PWUM). Forty PWUH and 35 PWUM in a rehabilitation facility completed the single category implicit association test (SC-IAT), which evaluated implicit associations of a “drug user” with “self,” and a measure of explicit self-identification as a “drug user.” Prior drug-use behaviors and current abstinence duration of the participants were assessed. PWUH demonstrated stronger implicit “self + drug user” associations and higher levels of explicit self-identification as a “drug user” than PWUM. A higher frequency of drug use was associated with higher levels of explicit drug-user self-identity, and longer abstinence duration was positively related to stronger implicit “self + drug user” associations in PWUH. The drug type of heroin (vs. methamphetamine) participants used was associated with a higher frequency of use, which, in turn, predicted higher levels of explicit drug-user self-identity. Given that the PWUH group differs from the PWUM group in terms of implicit and explicit self-identification as “drug users,” it would be more appropriate to address drug-user self-identity of individuals according to the substance they use rather than as a collective group.

Implicit and Explicit Attitudes Toward Antihypertensive Medications Explain Variation in Pharmacy Refill and Self-Reported Adherence Beyond Traditional Risk Factors: Potential Novel Mechanism Underlying Adherence.

BackgroundIn pursuit of novel mechanisms underlying persistent low medication adherence rates, we assessed contributions of implicit and explicit attitudes, beyond traditional risk factors, in explaining variation in objective and subjective antihypertensive medication adherence.Methods and ResultsImplicit and explicit attitudes were assessed using the difference scores from the computer‐based Single Category Implicit Association Test and the Necessity and Concerns subscales of the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire, respectively. Antihypertensive medication adherence was measured using pharmacy refill proportion of days covered (PDC: mean PDC, low PDC <0.8) and the self‐report 4‐item Krousel‐Wood Medication Adherence Scale (K‐Wood‐MAS‐4: mean K‐Wood‐MAS‐4, low adherence via K‐Wood‐MAS‐4 ≥1). Hierarchical logistic and linear regression models controlled for traditional risk factors including social determinants of health, explicit, and implicit attitudes in a stepwise fashion. Community‐dwelling insured participants (n=85: 44.7% female; 20.0% Black; mean age, 62.3 years; 43.5% low PDC, and 31.8% low adherence via K‐Wood‐MAS‐4) had mean (SD) explicit and implicit attitude scores of 7.188 (5.683) and 0.035 (0.334), respectively. Low PDC was inversely associated with more positive explicit (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.87; 95% CI, 0.78–0.98; P=0.022) and implicit (aOR, 0.12; 95% CI, 0.02–0.80; P=0.029) attitudes, which accounted for an additional 8.6% (P=0.016) and 6.5% (P=0.029) of variation in low PDC, respectively. Lower mean K‐Wood‐MAS‐4 scores (better adherence) were associated only with more positive explicit attitudes (adjusted β, −0.04; 95% CI, −0.07 to −0.01; P=0.026); explicit attitudes explained an additional 5.6% (P=0.023) of K‐Wood‐MAS‐4 variance.ConclusionsImplicit and explicit attitudes explained significantly more variation in medication adherence beyond traditional risk factors, including social determinants of health, and should be explored as potential mechanisms underlying adherence behavior.

Are Health Care Professionals' Implicit and Explicit Attitudes Toward Conventional Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs Associated With Those of Their Patients?

It is generally unknown how the attitudes and beliefs of health care professionals (HCPs) might affect the attitudes, beliefs, and medication-taking behavior of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study aims 1) to examine the attitudes, health-related associations (both implicit and explicit), and beliefs of HCPs about conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, and 2) to assess whether these attitudes, health-related associations, and beliefs of HCPs are associated with those of their patients, with their patients' medication-taking behavior, and disease activity. HCPs were recruited from 2 centers that specialized in rheumatology across The Netherlands, and patient recruitment followed. In this observational study, implicit outcomes were measured with single-category implicit association tests, whereas explicit outcomes were measured with a bipolar evaluative adjective scale and the Beliefs About Medicines Questionnaire-Specific. Spearman's rank correlations were used to describe correlations between implicit and explicit measures of the attitudes of HCPs. Multilevel, mixed-effects linear models were used to examine the association of HCP-related characteristics, including the implicit and explicit outcomes of HCPs, with those of their patients, their medication-taking behaviors, and disease activity. Of the 1,659 initially invited patients, 254 patients with RA (mean age 62.8 years, mean disease duration 11.8 years, and 68.1% of the patients were female) who were treated by 26 different HCPs agreed to participate in this study. The characteristics, attitudes, health-related associations, and beliefs about medicines of HCPs were not significantly associated with those of their patients, nor with their medication-taking behaviors or disease activity scores. This study demonstrated that the attitudes, health-related associations (as measured both implicitly and explicitly), and beliefs of HCPs were not significantly associated with the attitudes, beliefs, medication-taking behavior, and disease activity of patients with RA.

A dual-process model of affective and instrumental attitudes in predicting physical activity

IntroductionA novel dual-process model based upon the affective-reflective theory which distinguishes between affective attitude and instrumental attitude at an explicit and implicit level was used to predict physical activity. MethodUndergraduate students (N = 114) completed a lab-based study at two time-points, spaced two weeks apart. Participants completed self-report measures of the theory of planned behavior constructs, including explicit affective attitude and explicit instrumental attitude. Implicit affective attitude and implicit instrumental attitude were measured using single category implicit association tests. ResultsExplicit affective attitude and perceived behavioral control indirectly predicted physical activity through intention, and explicit affective attitude, implicit affective attitude, and intention predicted physical activity directly with a modest effect size (R2 = 0.24). DiscussionFindings suggest explicitly and implicitly held evaluative information are conceptually distinct, and affective evaluations are key in guiding physical activity behavior regardless of whether such evaluations are implicit or consciously accessible.

Sooo Sweeet! Presence of Long Vowels in Brand Names Lead to Expectations of Sweetness.

Throughout the history of languages, poets and writers have used linguistic tools to enhance euphony in their creations. One of the widely used tools to convey melody in any written (or spoken) creative art form is the use of long vowels. This paper examines the linkages between long (vs. short) vowel sounds and taste expectations of sweetness. Across four studies, we demonstrate that people expect products with brand names containing long vowels to taste sweeter than those including short vowel sounds. In studies 1 and 2, we demonstrate this association with the use of self-reported measures, and in studies 3 and 4, we employ indirect measures (implicit taste–shape correspondence and Single Category Implicit Association Test (SC-IAT) paradigm) to show the effect holds at a subconscious level of processing. Previous research in this field has typically linked vowel position (high vs. low or front vs. back) with product or brand attribute expectations. This paper contributes to the growing body of literature in this field by demonstrating the importance of vowel length in sound symbolism, and more precisely, how it pertains to the taste continuum.

The rank of a value in the importance hierarchy of values affects its relationship to self-concept: a SC-IAT study

Using the single category implicit association test (SC-IAT), the present study investigated the relationship between self-concept and importance hierarchies of values. The results of a word-matching task showed that values ranked as high importance were correlated with self-descriptive words, as indicated by shorter reaction time and higher accuracy rate. By contrast, values rated as low importance were instead linked with other-descriptive words. This suggests that, at the level of implicit processing, values perceived as important are internalized to self-concept, and the degree of internalization or exclusion of values from self-concept is correlated with their ranking on an individual’s importance hierarchy of values. The above results provide novel evidence for the role of values in the structure and content of self-concept.

Implicit professional identity: assessment and relation with explicit professional identity and well-being of pre-service teachers

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of implicit professional identity (IPI) and its relationship with explicit professional identity (EPI) and well-being of pre-service teachers. A total of 81 Chinese female pre-service teacher volunteers participated in the study, in which their IPI, EPI, and well-being were measured using the Single Category Implicit Association Test (SC-IAT), the professional identification scale for pre-service teachers, and the short depression-happiness scale, respectively. The results indicated that (a) pre-service teachers had positive IPI; (b) the correlation between the measures of pre-service teachers’ EPI and IPI was not significant; (c) IPI significantly predicted well-being negatively, while EPI positively predicted well-being; and (d) IPI moderated the relationship between EPI and well-being. In the weak IPI group, EPI did not significantly predict well-being; however, in the strong IPI group, EPI significantly predicted well-being positively.

Situational Victimization Cues Strengthen Implicit and Explicit Self-Victim Associations: An Experiment With College-Aged Adults.

Contextually salient social identities are those that individuals may not think of often but that may be temporarily activated by relevant situational cues. We hypothesized that victim, one of many identities people may possess, is a contextually salient identity that operates both implicitly and explicitly. To test this hypothesis, the present research tests the effect of a situational victimization cue on implicit and explicit self-victim associations. We utilized an experiment with a 2 (Victimization salience: yes vs. no) × 2 (Past victimization experience: yes vs. no) between-participants design. One hundred eighty-one undergraduate student participants were recruited and randomized into one of two conditions: (a) an experimental condition reminding them of a previous victimization experience or (b) a control condition whereby they did not receive a reminder. All participants then completed one Single-Category Implicit Association Test, and self-report measures of explicit self-victim associations and victimization experience. Between-participants analyses of variance were used to analyze data. Results indicated that individuals who were reminded of a previous victimization exhibited stronger explicit and implicit self-victim associations compared to those who were not reminded. This research provides initial evidence that victim is a contextually salient identity, which has implications for the factors and processes underlying identity formation, revictimization, and the prevention of repeat victimization.

Mummy, daddy, and addiction: Implicit insecure attachment is associated with substance use in college students.

Indirect measures of cognition have become an important tool in research on addiction. To date, however, no research has examined whether indirect measures of parent attachment relate to substance use. To examine this issue, a sample of college students (N = 121) was asked to complete two measures of explicit attachment (the Relationship Questionnaire; Bartholomew & Horowitz, 1991, and the Adult Attachment Styles; Collins & Read, 1990), and a measure of implicit attachment (the Single Category Implicit Association Test, Karpinski & Steinman, 2006). The indirect attachment measure assessed the strength of automatic mental association between the concepts parents and secure. Participants also completed different measures of tobacco, cannabis, and alcohol use. Results showed that, for most of the participants, the parents were considered a source of security at both the explicit and implicit levels. Direct and indirect attachment measures were not related to each other. Overall, explicit attachment was not related to substance use. However, implicit attachment was significantly associated with the use of licit (tobacco) and illicit (cannabis) drugs. We also found some evidence that polydrug use is especially common among students with an insecure implicit attachment. This is the first study to examine how implicit attachment processes relate to addictive behaviors. The results suggest that implicit attachment, thought to reflect unconscious traces of past experiences, is a better predictor of substance use in college students than direct, self-reported measures of attachment. Further studies should examine whether implicit attachment is associated with severe substance use disorders in clinical populations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Intervention study on the stigma of mental illness in college students

Objective To investigate the automatic implicit attitude and explicit stigma of mental illness, and the intervention effectiveness on the stigma of mental illness in college students. Methods Single category implicit association test(SC-IAT) and questionnaire survey were used to study the degree of implicit and explicit mental illness stigma among 30 college students of Peking University, and investigated the effect of two strategies, education and contact.Data were analyzed by SPSS 22.0 with t-test and variance analysis. Results The D values of SC-IAT in the three dimensions of cognitive evaluation, emotional response and behavioral tendency of college students were 0.29±0.37, 0.24±0.43, and 0.10±0.43.There was a statistically significant difference between the cognitive evaluation dimension, the emotional response dimension and 0(t=4.069, P 0.05). The correct rates of questions Which of the following situations do you think are considered mentally unhealthy? and Which of the following disorders are mental illnesses (42±13)%, (54±13)%) increased after receiving educational intervention ((49±12)%, (64±13)%), the difference was statistically significant (F=3.682, P<0.05; F=3.576, P<0.05). Conclusion College students have implicit mental illness stigma, educational and contact intervention strategies can help improve college students' understanding of relevant knowledge, and cannot improve the level of implicit stigma of college students on mental illness. Key words: Mental illness stigma; Implicit stigma; Single category implicit association test; Stigma intervention

Implicit and explicit attitudes towards disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs as possible target for improving medication adherence.

ObjectiveThis study aims to explore the contribution of implicit attitudes and associations towards conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (cDMARDs), alongside explicit measures, on medication-taking behaviour and clinical outcomes in adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).MethodsIn this observational study, implicit attitudes (positive-negative) and health-related associations (health-sickness) were measured with Single Category Implicit Association Tests, whereas explicit outcomes were measured with a bipolar evaluative adjective scale and the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire Specific. The primary outcome of this study was medication-taking behaviour subjectively measured by self-report (i.e. validated Compliance Questionnaire on Rheumatology) and objectively measured with electronic drug monitors over a 3 month period. Spearman rank correlations were used to describe correlations between implicit and explicit outcomes. Nested linear regression models were used to assess the additional value of implicit measures over explicit measures and patient-, clinical-, and treatment-related characteristics.ResultsOf the 1659 initially-invited patients, 254 patients with RA agreed to participate in this study. Implicit attitudes correlated significantly with necessity-concerns differential (NCD) scores (ρ = 0.13, P = 0.05) and disease activity scores (ρ = -0.17, P = 0.04), whereas implicit health-related associations correlated significantly with mean scores for explicitly reported health-related associations (ρ = 0.18, P = 0.004). Significant differences in age, number of DMARDs, biologic DMARD use, NCD-scores, and self-reported correct dosing were found between the four attitudinal profiles. Nested linear regression models revealed no additional value of implicit measures in explaining self-reported medication-taking behaviour and clinical outcomes, over and above all other variables.ConclusionImplicit attitudes and associations had no additional value in explaining medication-taking behaviour and clinical outcomes over and above often used explicitly measured characteristics, attitudes and outcomes in the studied population. Only age and NCD scores contributed significantly when the dependent variable was correct dosing measured with self-report.

Multisensory Facial Stimulation Implicitly Improves Evaluations of the Goodness of Attractive Others.

It has been well demonstrated that shared multisensory experiences between the self and others can influence the social perception of out-group members. Previous research has shown that the illusion of ownership over a dark-skinned rubber hand or full virtual body generated less negative implicit bias against people with dark skin. However, less is known about how perceived attractiveness difference between self and other affects social perception toward those others after shared multisensory experience. The present study assessed whether shared multisensory experience between the self and attractive others would affect the implicit evaluation of goodness of others. Seventy-three women participated in the study. After the visuotactile multisensory stimulation procedure, participants were administered the Single Category Implicit Association Test (SC-IAT), which presents two attributes (good and bad) and one concept (other). Results showed that the more attractive the faces are, the more positive their implicit evaluation becomes after the synchronous tactile stimulation. This result suggests that shared multisensory experience makes people feel more positive toward others who have positive attribute. This finding suggests that self-other blurring in social contexts might be a compelling factor in evaluating other people positively.

Growth hormone therapy and short stature-related distress: A randomized placebo-controlled trial.

Growth hormone (GH) treatment of short healthy children is based on the belief that short stature is associated with psychosocial problems and a diminished quality of life. To determine the impact of GH therapy on psychosocial well-being and the ability of psychological metrics to define short stature-related distress. Sixty prepubertal boys with idiopathic short stature (age: 10.0±1.4years, height-SDS: -2.38±0.3) were enrolled in this 4-year intervention study (1-year double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled [GH/placebo-2:1] and 3-year open-labelled GH therapy). Explicit (conscious/voluntary) psychological metrics (Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory [PedsQL], Silhouette Apperception Test [SAT], Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale [RSES], Child Behavior Checklist [CBCL]) and implicit (unconscious/involuntary) psychological metrics (Single-Category Implicit Association Test for height [SC-IAT-H], Height Perception Picture Test [HPPT]). Psychosocial evaluations were performed at study entry, after 1 and 4years. At study entry, PedsQL of boys with idiopathic short stature was lower than Israeli norms (P=0.001). After 1-year blinded intervention, only the GH-treated boys improved their actual and anticipated adult height perception (SAT, P<0.001 and P=0.022) with reduced short stature-related distress (SC-IAT-H, P<0.001). At study end, RSES and SC-IAT-H improved significantly (P<0.001), with no change in PedsQL and CBCL. Our finding of improved psychosocial functioning only in the GH-treated boys after 1-year blinded intervention suggests that it was the GH therapy, rather than being enrolled in a clinical trial, which contributed to the outcome. Long-term open-labelled GH treatment significantly improved height perception and self-esteem. Future studies are needed to fully assess the relevance of complementing the routinely used explicit self-report measures with the implicit measures.

Implicit evaluation of chocolate and motivational need states interact in predicting chocolate intake in everyday life

Snack food consumption has a high relevance for health and is partially controlled by implicit, motivational processes that make self-control difficult at certain times. Specifically, research suggests that individuals with a more positive implicit food evaluation consume more snack foods in the laboratory under conditions of high motivational needs (e.g., hunger and food craving). Yet, no study investigated if and under which circumstances implicit evaluation of food predicts snack food intake in real life. In the present study, 60 female undergraduate students (mean age: 22.3 ± 2.34 years) at the University of Salzburg, Austria, completed a chocolate-related Single Category Implicit Association Test in the laboratory and then reported snack food intake during seven days of signal-contingent Ecological Momentary Assessment. Results showed that a more positive implicit evaluation of chocolate was associated with a higher likelihood of consuming chocolate in states of high hunger and high momentary chocolate craving, whereas no such modulatory pattern was found in states of low hunger or low chocolate craving. Therefore, interventions targeting daily chocolate craving and consumption may be particularly beneficial in specific situations (i.e., in states of high hunger and craving) and also in vulnerable populations (e.g., those with a more positive implicit food evaluation).

Implicit self-criminal cognition and its relation to criminal behavior.

Three studies adopted implicit social cognition theory and methodology to understand criminal cognition outside of conscious awareness or control, specifically by testing whether individual differences in implicit associations between the self and the group criminals are related to criminal behavior. A Single Category Implicit Association Test measured self-criminal associations across 3 adult samples-2 from Newark, New Jersey, a high-crime United States city, and an adult national sample from the United States. Then, all participants reported their criminal behavior in 2 cross-sectional design studies and 1 longitudinal design study. Consistent with an additive model of implicit and explicit cognition, studies generally demonstrated that strong implicit self-criminal associations increased the odds of committing a criminal act, even after accounting for explicit self-criminal cognition, past criminal behavior, and/or criminal-related demographics. This research suggests that implicit self-criminal associations serve as a cognitive marker for criminal behavior. Furthermore, the present research calls into question criminal justice policies and practices that assume that criminal behavior is exclusively driven by criminal intent. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

Changes in implicit alcohol attitudes across adolescence, and associations with emerging alcohol use: Testing the reciprocal determinism hypothesis.

Implicit alcohol-related cognitions develop during adolescence and are thought to play an important role in the etiology of adolescent alcohol use. Rooted in reciprocal determinism, a developmental theory of alcohol-related cognitions, the current study sought to enhance our understanding of the development of automatic alcohol associations and their relationship with alcohol use. To provide a theoretically aligned test of reciprocal determinism, we used latent change score models to examine whether growth in automatic alcohol associations and alcohol use was related to each other (between-person effects) and whether each construct led to changes in the other over time (within-person effects). Adolescents (N = 378) completed 4 annual assessments, spanning early to middle adolescence. Automatic alcohol associations were assessed with a Single Category Implicit Association Test, and we used a quadruple processing tree model to extract a more "process pure" index of these associations. Alcohol use increased from early to middle adolescence, as negative automatic alcohol associations weakened over that same time period. Although there was no support for between-person associations, on the within-person level, weak negative automatic alcohol associations at Waves 2 and 3 were associated with increases in drinking at subsequent waves. Alcohol use did not significantly predict changes in automatic alcohol associations. Findings suggest the utility of distinguishing within- and between-person associations to understand the development of automatic alcohol associations and that automatic alcohol associations are prospectively associated with alcohol use and a potential target for intervention, one that becomes an increasingly salient influence on drinking as adolescence progresses. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).