title: Primacy of warmth versus competence: a motivated bias?
abstract: In line with previous results that challenge the traditional primacy of warmth over competence in outgroup perception, we propose to bridge elements from stereotype content model and social identity theory: Perceivers will use the competence and warmth dimensions differentially when interpreting higher or lower status outgroup members' behavior. We test the hypothesis that the dimension that is less favorable for the outgroup and more favorable for the ingroup will be used. In particular, we investigate whether the warmth dimension would better predict the interpretation of higher status outgroup members' behavior than the competence dimension, whereas the competence dimension would better predict the interpretation of lower status outgroup members' behavior than the warmth dimension. Two studies separately test these effects. Results suggest the existence of a motivated bias in interpreting outgroup members' behavior, especially when there is ingroup identification.
authors: University of Milan-Bicocca, Faculty of Psychology, Piazza dell'Ateneo Nuovo, 1-20126 Milan, Italy. juliette.richetin@unimib.it
authors: Juliette
authors: J
authors: Richetin
authors: Federica
authors: F
authors: Durante
authors: Silvia
authors: S
authors: Mari
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Perugini
authors: Chiara
authors: C
authors: Volpato
mesh_terms: D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006608:Hierarchy, Social; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D007600:Judgment; D008297:Male; D016743:Mental Competency; D009042:Motivation; D011209:Power, Psychological; D012919:Social Behavior; D012923:Social Class; D012928:Social Desirability; D012933:Social Identification; D012938:Social Perception; D013240:Stereotyping; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult