The Disconfirmability of Warmth and Competence - 1 - RUNNING HEAD: The (Dis-) Confirmability of Warmth and Competence The Confirmability and Disconfirmability of Trait Concepts Revisited: Does Content Matter?

Rothbart and Park (1986) demonstrated that, consistent with the common negativity bias, positive traits are difficult to confirm and easy to disconfirm while the opposite is true for negative traits. We extend their analysis by showing that trait (dis-)confirmability is moderated by trait content (Warmth vs. Competence). Study 1 identifies a trait sample representative of Warmth and Competence. Study 2 shows a strong negativity effect for Warmth, and a reduced (or absent) negativity effect for Competence. Study 3 examines trait properties related to the behavioural range of the trait-possessor and to the motivational goals of the perceiver as predictors of trait (dis-) confirmability. The theoretical and practical implications of our findings are discussed and avenues for future research are suggested.