This article extends models that assume that the integration of mixed (positive and negative) information results in a negativity bias in the morality domain but a positivity bias in the competence domain. Using functional analysis, this study predicted a positivity bias for moderately evaluated information and a negativity bias for extremely evaluated information. Content domain (competence vs. morality) and evaluative extremity produced main effects in a 2 x 2 experiment where 108 Ss were provided with descriptions of negative and positive behaviors of fictitious targets. As expected, the negativity effect in the morality domain was strong for extremely evaluated information but weak or nonexistent for moderately evaluated information. In contrast, the positivity effect in the competence domain was stronger for moderately than for extremely evaluated information. We suggest that positive and negative evaluations serve as approach and avoidance cues in interpersonal perception. The border between good and evil is located within rather than between persons: Usually, the same person shows both positive and negative attributes. An exception may be characters in the trivial literature, but this literature is considered trivial exactly because it is populated with "black" and "white" characters. According to the well-known averaging model of information integration (N. H. Anderson, 1981), observers' impressions of a person should be neutral if this person shows the same number of positive and negative attributes, each to the same extent. Numerous studies reveal, however, that even if the relative number of positive and negative attributes is controlled and balanced, negative impressions tend to emerge (e.g.

In Study I ,

The current longitudinal developmental study was designed to determine whether awareness of one's own biases (the metacognitive self, MCS) emerges and develops during the developmental period known as emerging adulthood. To this end, we followed almost 400 undergraduate university students (18-23 years) over the first three years of their studies, capturing data at five time points. We observed a growth in MCS that we explain in terms of the cognitive and motivational processes characteristic of emerging adulthood. We also observed group differences in MCS development. Students who performed better on the MCS scale at the very beginning of the study tended to show a greater increase in the MCS than those who scored poorly. Emerging adulthood appears to be a very important period with respect to individual differences in becoming aware of one's own biases.

Abstract. Th e main aim of this study is to investigate the diff erences between levels of metacognitive self among cultural groups. Metacognitive self is a new concept meaning the level of insight into own biases. We focus on individual versus collective societies as well as the core characteristics of the metacognitive self. Our results indicate better selfinsight among collectivistic nations such as Vietnam, Japan, China and India in comparison to individualistic countries (USA, England, Spain). We also studied the level of metacognitive self among participants from Poland, the country undergoing socio -economic transition from collectivistic to individualistic society. Future studies should expand the investigation to include more collectivistic and individualistic nations, and countries undergoing transitions.

The aim of this article is to present the theoretical motivational background regarding metacognitive self, which is being aware of how biases and psychological rules (like classic conditional) influence one's own behavior. Based on this framework, we used a Polish nationwide representative sample to create a reliable tool (the first study: n = 1200, the next study n = 600, Partner in Business Strategy Company as an external contractor, who served as data collector). Until now, the MCSQ-40 questionnaire has been used. After modification -changing the continuous scale into a 6-point scale -and a survey of a representative sample of the Poles, a single-factor structure of metacognitive self was developed, and 21 items out of 40 previously used were selected. This resulted in developing a new tool: MCSQ-21. We assessed the congruent and concurrent validity of this instrument.