Positivity effect

The positivity effect refers to the tendency for people to attribute the positive behavior of other people whom they like to their disposition, while attributing negative behavior to their situation. It is thus an attributional bias.

The opposite effect is called the negativity effect in which the opposite bias in attribution is found when subjects rate others whom they specifically dislike.

See also

• list of cognitive biases

References

• Taylor, S. E. & Koivumaki, J. H. (1976). The perception of self and others: Acquantanceship, affect and actor-observer differences. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 33, 403–408.