Understanding Belief-Behavior Correspondence: Beliefs and Belief-to-Behavior Inferences

. Belief-to-behavior inferences are generally probabilistic and are made when individuals have a behavioral (vs. informational) goal. These inferences are also more likely when individuals rely on beliefs that are closer to behavior (e.g., descriptive versus existence beliefs) within the belief-to-behavior inference chain. The model clarifies inferential processes for different belief types and makes novel predictions about the effects of goals and cognitive capacity on the belief-behavior correspondence. In addition, it integrates memory-based and online decision processes, independent activation of behavioral attitudes and intentions, and proceduralization of belief-to-behavior inferences.