What is the effect of Positive Sentiment Override on conflict behavior?

• A. It leads to more blaming and escalation
• B. It fosters more forgiving attributions and reduces escalation
• C. It guarantees immediate reconciliation
• D. It is unrelated to conflict

Answer: (B)

Positive Sentiment Override reflects interpreting your partner’s behavior during a disagreement in a generous, positive light. When you view actions through a forgiving lens, you attribute ambiguous remarks or slips to good intentions rather than malice. This lowers defensiveness, makes it easier to give the benefit of the doubt, and invites repair rather than escalation. So, the effect is to foster more forgiving attributions and reduce escalation. It doesn’t guarantee reconciliation, and it’s not unrelated to conflict—it’s a way of shaping how conflict is perceived and handled to stay calmer and more constructive.