Self-other comparative focus in social perception

The research deals with the effects of subject- and object-directed perceptual focus on the severity of Self-positivity bias in comparison with a «good» and «bad» person in conditions of different level of perceivable similarity with him/her. It has been hypothesized that a Self-positivity bias is stronger in the case of the subject-directed comparison focus, object’s negative behavioral valency and the low level of perceivable similarity with him/her. The study involved 314 students aged 18 to 30 (M = 20,23, SD = 1,59), 79 males (25 %) and 235 females. At the first stage, the participants filled in the Short Dark Triad Questionnaire (SD3). At the second stage, they watched a video interview with the object, during which he/she answered the questions of the same questionnaire. At the third stage, the participants were asked to evaluate the level of general similarity with the object, their general attitude towards him/her, the degree of certain positive and negative features in his/her character, as well as their own and his/her superiority in these features. The characters of the interviews were 2 (male and female) students, educated in dramatic acting. During the interview, they answered the SD3 questions in accordance with the key, playing the role of «good» and «bad» person. Statistical analyses included Student’s t-test and two-way ANOVA (repeated measurement method, mixed design). It was found that comparison focus was a key implicit factor in strengthening and weakening Self-positivity bias. With subject-directed focus bias increased, and with object-directed focus it decreased. The positive behavioral valency of the object (the image of the «good Other») provoked a cognitive conflict of perception, which was manifested in the statement of equal superiority over him/her both in negative and in positive features. The awareness of high similarity with the object did not weaken the Self-positivity bias, which can be considered as evidence in favor of the weak influence of conscious regulation on the process of social perception.