Stereotype content model
Encyclopedia
The stereotype
content model is a psychological theory that hypothesizes that stereotypes possess two dimensions: warmth and competence. Warmth being defined in this theory as how friendly, kind, and affectionate one seems. Competence being defined as how capable an individual appears to be. Observers utilize these dimensions to determine competition and status.
This model consists of four categories: low warmth, high warmth, low competence, and high competence. An observer may perceive someone with high warmth and high competence to be of high status and competition, in contrast to someone perceived with low warmth and low competence. “Combinations of warmth and competence generate distinct emotions of admiration, contempt, envy, and pity.”
These inter-group emotions and stereotypes predict behaviors; active, passive, facilitative, and harmful. An active behavior would require the observer to perceive the individual as low in competence but high in warmth; therefore, would actively assist them. A passive behavior is one in which the observer perceives the individual as low in both warmth and competence; therefore, they do not engage with the individual at all. A facilitative behavior stems from the observers belief that the individual is high in both competence and warmth; therefore, they provide them with necessary assistance, but allow for independence. A harmful behavior is implemented when an observer views an individual as high in competence but low in warmth; therefore, they engage in negative behaviors against the individual.
An example of this model would be an observer might perceive a homeless person on low in warmth and low in competence. The combination of these two dimensions creates an emotion of disgust in the observer and will cause them to behave passively.
Stereotype
A stereotype is a popular belief about specific social groups or types of individuals. The concepts of "stereotype" and "prejudice" are often confused with many other different meanings...
content model is a psychological theory that hypothesizes that stereotypes possess two dimensions: warmth and competence. Warmth being defined in this theory as how friendly, kind, and affectionate one seems. Competence being defined as how capable an individual appears to be. Observers utilize these dimensions to determine competition and status.
This model consists of four categories: low warmth, high warmth, low competence, and high competence. An observer may perceive someone with high warmth and high competence to be of high status and competition, in contrast to someone perceived with low warmth and low competence. “Combinations of warmth and competence generate distinct emotions of admiration, contempt, envy, and pity.”
These inter-group emotions and stereotypes predict behaviors; active, passive, facilitative, and harmful. An active behavior would require the observer to perceive the individual as low in competence but high in warmth; therefore, would actively assist them. A passive behavior is one in which the observer perceives the individual as low in both warmth and competence; therefore, they do not engage with the individual at all. A facilitative behavior stems from the observers belief that the individual is high in both competence and warmth; therefore, they provide them with necessary assistance, but allow for independence. A harmful behavior is implemented when an observer views an individual as high in competence but low in warmth; therefore, they engage in negative behaviors against the individual.
An example of this model would be an observer might perceive a homeless person on low in warmth and low in competence. The combination of these two dimensions creates an emotion of disgust in the observer and will cause them to behave passively.