Book Quote by Jeffrey Pfeffer
“The individual attributes of warmth and competence are often perceived to be negatively correlated. That doesn't mean they actually are, but that's how people perceive the world. So, cruel people, those who gave negative book reviews, for instance, were seen as less likeable but as more intelligent.”
About This Quote
People often assume a trade‑off between warmth and competence, judging harsh critics as less likable but smarter, even though the traits aren't inherently opposed.
In simple terms: Perceived warmth‑competence trade‑off
Key Takeaway
Perception biases can misjudge character
Themes
social perception
stereotype
warmth vs competence
judgment bias
attribution error
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
observation
analysis
When to use this quote
- reading reviews
- job interviews
- political debates
- online commenting
Key Concepts
impression formation
cognitive bias
evaluation heuristics
Practical Applications
- training on bias awareness
- designing fair evaluation systems
Questions to Reflect On
- How does this bias affect decision‑making?
- Can we train to separate warmth from competence judgments?
A Different Perspective
Some research shows warmth can enhance perceived competence, suggesting the correlation can be positive in certain contexts.
