Why Good Is More Alike Than Bad: Processing Implications

Valence asymmetries describe differences in how humans process positive and negative information. They are evident at all stages of information processing and have been summarized under the observation that ‘bad is stronger than good’. Many researchers have argued that valence asymmetries result from internal affective reactions. Because negative information is more relevant for well-being, it elicits a strong affective reaction, which triggers deeper and more elaborate processing. We provide an alternative explanation for valence asymmetries in cognitive processing based on the observation that positive information is more similar than negative information. We argue that this similarity difference is inherent in the information environment. It results from the well-established assumption that positive states are non-extreme. Most attribute dimensions host one (non-extreme) positive range framed by two (extreme) negative ranges. Consequently, positive persons, objects, or words are more similar to one another than negative ones. Positive information's higher similarity provides a viable alternative explanation for valence asymmetries because interstimulus similarity influences all stages of cognitive processing. Humans process positive information and negative information differently. These valence asymmetries in processing are often summarized under the observation that ‘bad is stronger than good’, meaning that negative information has stronger psychological impact (e.g., in feedback, learning, or social interactions). This stronger impact is usually attributed to people's affective or motivational reactions to evaluative information. We present an alternative interpretation of valence asymmetries based on the observation that positive information is more similar than negative information. We explain this higher similarity based on the non-extremity of positive attributes, discuss how it accounts for observable valence asymmetries in cognitive processing, and show how it predicts hitherto undiscovered phenomena. Humans process positive information and negative information differently. These valence asymmetries in processing are often summarized under the observation that ‘bad is stronger than good’, meaning that negative information has stronger psychological impact (e.g., in feedback, learning, or social interactions). This stronger impact is usually attributed to people's affective or motivational reactions to evaluative information. We present an alternative interpretation of valence asymmetries based on the observation that positive information is more similar than negative information. We explain this higher similarity based on the non-extremity of positive attributes, discuss how it accounts for observable valence asymmetries in cognitive processing, and show how it predicts hitherto undiscovered phenomena.