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Cited by 4,567Evolutionary Psychology and Human BehaviorSocial and Intergroup PsychologyChild and Animal Learning Development

Universal dimensions of social cognition: warmth and competence

Fiske, Susan T., Cuddy, Amy J.C., Glick, Peter·2007·Trends in Cognitive Sciences
DOI 10.1016/j.tics.2006.11.005
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Abstract

Like all perception, social perception reflects evolutionary pressures. In encounters with conspecifics, social animals must determine, immediately, whether the "other" is friend or foe (i.e. intends good or ill) and, then, whether the "other" has the ability to enact those intentions. New data confirm these two universal dimensions of social cognition: warmth and competence. Promoting survival, these dimensions provide fundamental social structural answers about competition and status. People perceived as warm and competent elicit uniformly positive emotions and behavior, whereas those perceived as lacking warmth and competence elicit uniform negativity. People classified as high on one dimension and low on the other elicit predictable, ambivalent affective and behavioral reactions. These universal dimensions explain both interpersonal and intergroup social cognition.

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  • According to the Stereotype Content Model, disgust-inducing targets such as homeless people and drug addicts in US samples, and immigrants and poor people in all samples, are perceived as low on both warmth and competence.

    “while disgust-inducing targets (homeless people and drug addicts in US samples; immigrants and poor people in all samples) are perceived as low on both trait dimensions (Fiske, Cuddy, & Glick, 2007).”

    From Dehumanized Perception: A Psychological Means to Facilitate Atrocities, Torture, and Genocide? (2011) · cites this paper as Fiske, Cuddy, & Glick, 2007

  • Participants rated the chatbot on 10 attributes using 5-point Likert scales, compiled from previous work on anthropomorphism of AI systems and technology.

    “Participants rated the chatbot on 10 attributes using 5-point Likert scales. These items were compiled from previous work on anthropomorphism of AI systems and technology [36, 37, 46].”

    From Humanlike AI Design Increases Anthropomorphism but Yields Divergent Outcomes on Engagement and Trust Globally (2025) · cites this paper as [37]

  • Status and connection are pivotal to explaining social behavior across many domains.

    “Status and connection are pivotal to explaining social behavior (Abele & Wojciszke, 2013; Fiske et al., 2007; Gurtman, 2009) across many domains.”

    From Social Drivers and Algorithmic Mechanisms on Digital Media. (2024) · cites this paper as Fiske et al., 2007

Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. Fiske, S.T. and Taylor, S.E. Social Cognition (3rd edn), McGraw-Hill (in press)
  2. Cuddy, A.J.C. et al. Is the stereotype content model culture-bound? A cross-cultural comparison reveals systematic similarities and differences. Br. J. Soc. Psychol. (in press)
  3. Oldmeadow, J. and Fiske, S.T. Ideology moderates status=competence stereotypes: roles for belief in a just world and social dominance orientation. Eur. J. Soc. Psychol. (in press)

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Authors
Fiske, S. T., Cuddy, A. J. C., & Glick, P.
Affiliations
  • Princeton University (US)
  • Northwestern University (US)
  • Lawrence University (US)
Corresponding author
Fiske, Susan T.
ORCID
Venue
Trends in Cognitive Sciences
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2007-02
Volume
11
Issue
2
Pages
77-83
ISSN
1364-6613 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.tics.2006.11.005
OpenAlex
W2150690631
Cited by
4,567
References
69
Citations by year
2026: 404 · 2025: 453 · 2024: 386 · 2023: 374 · 2022: 400 · 2021: 331 · 2020: 310 · 2019: 309 · 2018: 279 · 2017: 227 · 2016: 187 · 2015: 208 · 2014: 171 · 2013: 149 · 2012: 110
FWCI
4.70
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Trends in Cognitive Sciences (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Child and Animal Learning Development
Keywords
warmth, competence, social cognition, social perception, evolutionary psychology, interpersonal perception, intergroup perception, emotional responses, social status, competition (biology)
MeSH terms
Aptitude, Cognition, Humans, Social Behavior, Stereotyping, Mental Competency

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