Second, our study extends research on the negativity bias. While a great deal of evidence
supports the negativity bias, less attention has been given to identifying boundary conditions or
mitigating factors. Our study provides evidence that the negativity bias holds in settings with
differentially important dimensions. That is, the negativity bias exists even when the negative
outcomes involve relatively unimportant dimensions. To the extent that the negativity bias is due to
intentional factors, the negativity bias should not operate when negative outcomes involve
relatively unimportant dimensions. Thus, our findings are important because they suggest that
unintentional or automatic processes are sufficiently strong to observe the negativity bias, and
consequently, the relative importance of a dimension is not a boundary condition for the negatively
bias.