When bias and insecurity promote accuracy: Mean-level bias and tracking accuracy in couples' conflict discussions

Heterosexual couples (n = 57) discussed features about each other they wanted to change. during a review of their recorded discussions,for each 30 s of interaction,perceivers provided judgments of their partner's regard,and partners reported their actual regard for the perceiver. the authors simultaneously assessed the extent to which perceivers' over- or underestimated their partner's regard (mean-level bias) and tracked their partner's changing regard across the discussion (tracking accuracy). perceivers on average tended to underestimate their partner's regard (negative mean-level bias) but exhibited substantial tracking accuracy. bias and accuracy were related; perceivers that were more negatively biased more accurately tracked changes in their partner's regard. women who were more insecure about their partner's continued regard demonstrated more negative mean-level bias and greater tracking accuracy,whereas more secure women demonstrated more positive bias and lower accuracy. the results indicate that bias and accuracy are shaped by context-relevant goals and motives. © 2012 by the society for personality and social psychology,inc.