The role of individual differences in field dependence as a factor in learning and memory.

A review of the literature relating individual differences in field dependence to learning and memory suggests the following conclusions: (a) Field-dependent Ss are dominated by the salient cues in concept attainment problems, whereas field-independent Ss sample more fully from the available cue set. (b) Field-dependent Ss tend to use "spectator" approaches to learning. Whereas field-independent Ss more often use "participant" approaches. (c) Field independence is related to frequency of dream recall. (d) Field dependence is related to the magnitude of stress effects on learning and memory. (e) Field independence is related to performance effectiveness under conditons of intrinsic motivation. (f) Field dependence is related to the effectiveness of negative reinforcement. (g) Incidental learning of social information is greater among field-dependent than among field-independent Ss. (5 p ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)