The stability of a positive charge is increased if the positive charge isn't quite so large - in other words, if you have adjacent electron donating groups or resonance structures that will move the charge onto a more electropositive atom the positive charge will effectively be somewhat reduced, and the carbocation will be stabilized. However, electron donating groups would de-stabilize a negative charge. On the other hand, electron withdrawing groups, or resonance structures that will move the negative charge onto a more electronegative atom, will stabilize a carbanion but destabilize a carbocation.