How a Few Seconds of Thought Can Make You Smarter at Trivial Pursuit

Have you ever wondered if a simple thought could boost your brainpower—just enough to win a game of Trivial Pursuit? Picture this: you’re sitting with friends, ready to tackle a round of general knowledge questions, and somewhere in the back of your mind, a fleeting image of a brilliant professor suddenly lights up your neurons. What if that image, or even a few words, could actually improve your performance on the spot?

For years, we’ve assumed that our intelligence and success in such tasks come solely from the depth of our knowledge and hard study. But groundbreaking research by Ap Dijksterhuis and Ad van Knippenberg from the University of Nijmegen challenges this assumption. Their experiments reveal that our performance on challenging tasks can be subtly—and unconsciously—boosted (or impaired) by a few seconds of priming with certain stereotypes or traits. And stick with me until the end, because I’ll share a secret tip on how you might apply this in your own life for an extra mental edge.

Every day, we face situations where our ability to perform—whether in a job interview, a test, or even a casual game night—is put to the test. Imagine if, without any extra study, you could simply set the stage for success by tuning your mind with the right kind of thoughts. According to Dijksterhuis and van Knippenberg’s study, exposing yourself to a “professor” stereotype or the trait “intelligent” can boost your general knowledge performance dramatically.

Now, consider the flip side: what if you inadvertently expose yourself to negative stereotypes, like that of a “soccer hooligan,” before an important task? The research shows that such negative priming can actually hinder your performance. In a world where first impressions matter—even those that last only a few minutes—the stakes are high. Ignoring these findings could mean missing out on simple, yet powerful, ways to optimize our performance in everyday tasks.

Dijksterhuis and van Knippenberg embarked on a fascinating journey to explore how subtle mental cues shape our behavior. They designed a series of four experiments with a total of approximately 266 undergraduate students. Here’s a glimpse of their approach:

• The Setup: Participants were given a general knowledge questionnaire similar to a Trivial Pursuit game, with either 42 or 60 multiple-choice questions. Before taking the test, each participant completed a priming task.
• The Priming Tasks: In these tasks, participants were instructed by a computer program to think about and list attributes of groups like “typical professors,” “secretaries,” or “soccer hooligans.” In some experiments, they were also asked to reflect on the traits “intelligent” or “stupid.” The priming sessions varied in duration—some lasted 2 minutes, while others extended to 9 minutes.
• The Experiment in Action: After priming, the participants tackled the general knowledge quiz. The researchers measured the percentage of correct answers and, in some cases, the speed at which the test was completed. The analysis used one-way and factorial ANOVAs to compare performance across different priming conditions and durations.

Throughout these experiments, the researchers were like detectives, piecing together clues from the participants’ responses. They discovered that even a brief mental warm-up could sway the outcome—much like setting the tone for a performance with a simple ritual.

Here’s where the plot thickens:

• Boosting Brains with a Professor’s Image: Participants primed with the professor stereotype (or the trait “intelligent”) scored significantly higher on the general knowledge test than those in control groups or those primed with the secretary stereotype. In one experiment, the performance boost was so striking that the professor-primed group outperformed others by a statistically significant margin (p < .05).
• The Dark Side of Negative Priming: In contrast, those primed with the soccer hooligan stereotype (or the trait “stupid”) performed notably worse. Longer priming durations (9 minutes versus 2 minutes) led to even stronger negative effects.
• Staying Power: Surprisingly, the priming effects didn’t fade over the short duration of the test (10-15 minutes). This suggests that once activated, these unconscious cues can sustain their influence for the duration of a task.

Imagine it like this: your brain is a stage, and a few well-chosen words or images can set the scene for success—or failure. A professor’s image might light up your mental circuitry, making you more alert and knowledgeable, while a hooligan stereotype might dim those lights, leaving you less prepared for the challenge ahead.

Now that you know the secret, how can you turn it to your advantage?

1. Pre-Task Priming: Before you dive into a challenging task—be it a test, an important meeting, or even a game of trivia—try to consciously expose yourself to positive cues. Read a short article about great thinkers, look at inspirational images, or mentally recite qualities associated with intelligence and success.
2. Design Your Environment: If you’re setting up a workspace or study area, surround yourself with symbols of competence and excellence. A poster of a respected professor or a quote from a leading intellectual might just be the nudge your brain needs.
3. Be Mindful of Negative Influences: Conversely, be aware of negative stereotypes or cues that might undermine your confidence. Acknowledge them, and if possible, remove them from your environment before tackling important tasks.

Imagine the boost in performance you could experience with these simple tweaks. It’s like giving your brain a head start—turning a mundane challenge into an opportunity to shine.

Reference

For more details, check out the original research paper: Dijksterhuis, A., & van Knippenberg, A. (2001). The Relation Between Perception and Behavior, or How to Win a Gameof Trivial Pursuit. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 81(5), 814–833.