Which term describes a bias that focuses on positive aspects rather than negative in social information processing?

Which term describes a bias that focuses on positive aspects rather than negative in social information processing?

• A. Attention bias
• B. Pollyanna principle
• C. Memory bias
• D. Interpretation bias

Answer: (B)

Positivity bias in social information processing, known as the Pollyanna principle, is being tested. It describes a tendency to focus on positive information and to remember and interpret social cues in a favorable light, rather than dwelling on negatives. This broad bias can influence what we notice, how we interpret ambiguous situations, and what we recall about interactions. It’s the best fit because it captures a general inclination toward positive aspects across processing, not just one specific stage. In contrast, attention bias often centers on threat or negative stimuli, memory bias can skew toward either positive or negative memories, and interpretation bias deals specifically with how we interpret ambiguity, not necessarily a global positivity tendency.

Positivity bias in social information processing, known as the Pollyanna principle, is being tested. It describes a tendency to focus on positive information and to remember and interpret social cues in a favorable light, rather than dwelling on negatives. This broad bias can influence what we notice, how we interpret ambiguous situations, and what we recall about interactions. It’s the best fit because it captures a general inclination toward positive aspects across processing, not just one specific stage. In contrast, attention bias often centers on threat or negative stimuli, memory bias can skew toward either positive or negative memories, and interpretation bias deals specifically with how we interpret ambiguity, not necessarily a global positivity tendency.