Social perceptions of warmth and competence influence behavioral intentions and neural processing.

ABSTRACT: Perceptions of the primary social dimensions, warmth and competence, determine how we view and relate to social targets. To discern how warmth and competence might affect neural processing and its downstream behavioral consequences, we manipulated impressions of targets' warmth and competence and then measured intentions toward the target and motor resonance, a neural process previously linked to social processing. While EEG was recorded, 66 participants watched videos of people performing a simple motor activity and completed a measure of hypothetical intentions to help or harm. Both perceptions of warmth and competence predicted an increase in helping intentions. Moreover, participants showed the least motor resonance with high competence-medium warmth targets, suggesting the importance

SUBMITTER: Simon JC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7220095 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature