Abstract

A slope difference model of negativity effects in evaluation was presented. The model was tested in the context of completion of missing relations in the P-O-Q triadic situations. In general, the hypotheses that the negative P/O relation arid attitude and sign dissimilarities will show greater slope than the positive P/O relation and attitude and sign similarities were supported. It was suggested that the effect or slope of negative relations or traits will show positively accelerated curves, while the effect or slope of positive relations or traits will show linear function. It was also suggested that people will show greater attention to the degrees of positivity than to the degrees of negativity. The data showed that the forces toward balance of positive P/O relation and attitude and sign similarities were greater than those of negative P/O relation and attitude and sign dissimilarities in triadic situations.