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The category confusion paradigm (Taylor, Fiske, Etco & Ruderman, 1978) was used to examine the relationship between cognitive load and the extent of social categorization. The original prediction made by Taylor et al. (1978; Experiment 2) and inferences from the cognitive miser model suggest that categorization should increase or be unaected by cognitive load. In contrast, it is argued that social categorization can be an eortful and resource-consuming process, especially where the representation of multiple stimuli are concerned. This leads to the prediction that social categorization should decrease with loadÐassuming there is enough load to produce recall errors in the ®rst place. We obtained results consistent with this analysis in paradigms which manipulated load by means of set-size (Study 1) and processing pace (Study 2).

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A new model is presented that explains reaction time fluctuations in prolonged work tasks. The model extends the so-called Poisson-Erlang model and can account for long-term trend effects in the reaction time curve. The model is consistent with Spearman's hypothesis that inhibition increases during work and decreases during rest. Predictions concerning the longterm trend were tested against data from the Bourdon-Vos cancellation test. The long-term trend in the mean and in the variance was perfectly described by the model. A goodness-of-fit test comparing frequency distributions of observed reaction and simulated reaction times was also supported by the model. Index terms: concentration, continuous work, distraction, inhibition, prolonged work, reaction time, response time.