Causal or dispositional inferences from verbs/relations: Overview of some published and unpublished material relevant for the issue of implicit causality in verbs

Some published and unpublished research from the CSCP (former LESP) that is relevant for the understanding of implicit causality in verbs, is reviewed and discussed. The reviewed research deals with the formation of impressions of personality on the basis of information about interpersonal relations between the target persons of whom impressions are formed. The obtained impressions often do not fit current theory and research on causality in verbs. However, the outcomes from both research strands may be reconciled if it is assumed that (a) both impressions of personality as well as causal inferences from verbs are consistent with the covariation principle of attribution, and (b) perceived covariation is reversed when verbs or interpersonal relations from which inferences are drawn, are embedded in a cognitively inconsistent or "imbalanced" configuration of informationnrpages: 20status: publishe