Students at the University of Papua New Guinea were shown photographs of persons representing all provincial regions in Papua New Guinea. They were asked to rate each target person on ten evaluative dimensions and to identify the provincial origin of the person in the photograph. The percentage of correct identifications was relatively low, suggesting that respondents were generally unable to assess provincial origins solely on the basis of visual information. Evaluative ratings illustrated a positivity or favourability bias in judgments of the target persons, but, contrary to earlier findings of Shea and Jones (1976), there was little evidence of stereotyping. The results are discussed in the context of social perception and the concept of self-fulfilling prophecy.

With a sample of 60 urban Melanesian households the relationship between expressed satisfaction and stress and the quantity and quality of personal space was examined. The negative and significant correlations obtained suggest trends similar to those found in Western urban samples. The results were discussed in relation to rapid urbanization and the role of the state in cultural change in Melanesia.