1. One way we form impressions of others is to construct a Gestalt, a general sense of a person that’s either positive or negative. Think of someone for whom you have a negative Gestalt. How did the negativity effect shape your impression? Now think of someone for whom you have a positive Gestalt. How much do you think the positivity bias influences your impressions of that person?

2. Recall a time when you encountered someone whose beliefs, attitudes, and values appeared to differ from yours. How did you perceive this person on first meeting him or her? What challenges did you face in trying to find common ground? Would you consider yourself more world-minded after interacting with others from different backgrounds?