Two broad valenced dimensions, agency and communion, underlie all social perception.

Evidence

To define the third type of stereotype accuracy, however, we must focus on content, and in particular on the valence of the attribute in question. Although we agree with Allport (and Campbell) that many attribute dimensions can be defined in positively valenced or negatively valenced terms (e.g., stingy versus thrifty), it is nevertheless the case that there exists broad agreement about the valence of certain fundamental attributes. In particular, two fundamental and broad dimensions seem to underlie social perception, both at the individual (Rosenberg, Nelson, & Vivekananthan, 1968) and group (Fiske, Cuddy, Glick, & Xu, 2002) levels, and there is widespread agreement about the valence of these dimensions. People and groups seems to differ in the degree to which they are seen to possess positively valued agentic attributes (with the positive pole of the dimension including attributes such as motivated, intelligent, organized, capable; and the negative pole including attributes such as lazy, slow, disorganized) and communal attributes (with the positive pole including attributes such as warm, friendly, supportive; and the negative pole including attributes such as hostile, uncaring, and cold). — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 861 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

On closer conceptual and empirical investigation, a simple model explains much. Robust converging methods, cumulative data, generality, history, conceptual parallels, coherent theory, and evolutionary plausibility characterize social cognition’s Big Two dimensions— warmth-communion and competence-agency. — Susan T. Fiske, Stereotype Content, 3 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Power and affiliation are the two fundamental dimensions structuring all social behavior. — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 1294; Warmth and competence form the two fundamental dimensions of social perception. — Susan T. Fiske, Stereotype Content: Warmth and…, 3; Social perception reduces to agentic and communal attribute dimensions — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice: Fifty Years…, 861 (+1 more)

Broader Connections

• Social perception reduces to agentic and communal attribute dimensions #corroborates (0.95) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 861
• Warmth and competence form the two fundamental dimensions of social perception. #corroborates (0.92) — Susan T. Fiske, Stereotype Content, 3