Task and Social Orientation: A Study of Field Dependence, “Arousal,” and Memory for Incidental Material

A conceptualization of field dependence-independence as a motivational orientation reflected in attentional selectivity and autonomic activity was tested using an incidental learning paradigm. 60 Ss assigned to a structured or unstructured condition were exposed to social and neutral incidental material; basal skin resistance was recorded. Results indicated that field-dependent Ss reflect social motivation by high non-specific “arousal” and by learning incidental material of a social nature. Field-independent Ss reflect task motivation by becoming “aroused” in response to specific task requirements and by learning task-relevant incidental material.