Abstract

The influences of positive and negative sign-combinations, strength of relations and the number of other persons and objects on the likableness of relation and subjective certainty of predictions in the missing relations we studied. In the two experiments, ++ combination showed greater balance-oriented likableness of prediction and greater subjective cerainty of predictions than + -, -+ and -- combinations, In the -- combination, the greater balance effect was obtained in the pre diction of p/o relation than in the prediction of p/x and o/x relations. The stronger the strength of the relation, the greater the balance-oriented likableness of prediction was obtained. The differences in the likableness and subjective certainty of predictions as a function of strength of the relations were greater in +-, -+ and -- combinations. Number of other persons and objects in the triadic structures increased the balance effect in the likableness of relations and did not influnce the subjective certainty of predictions. As a whole, predictions of p/o and o/x relations showed greater positivity effect than the predictions of p/x relation and subjective certainty of prediction was greater in the prediction of p/o relation than in the prediction of p/x relation. The results of the present study were discussed in terms of differences in the properties of positive and negative relations. It was argued that the positive relation will elicit approach and attentive responses and thought-increasing responses on the relation and the negative relation will elicit avoidance and disattentive responses and thought-stoppong responses on the relation.