What makes a person wise? Is it their ability to think critically, or their capacity for empathy? According to a groundbreaking new study, it’s both. Researchers from the University of Waterloo have found that across cultures, people consistently associate wisdom with two key dimensions: reflective orientation and socio-emotional awareness.
The study, published in Nature Communications, involved 2,707 participants from 12 countries across North and South America, Asia, Africa, and Europe. Participants were asked to rate the wisdom of various individuals, including scientists, politicians, and teachers, in complex real-life scenarios.
Dr. Maksim Rudnev, lead author and postdoctoral research associate at Waterloo, explained the findings: “To our surprise, the two dimensions emerged across all cultural regions we studied, and both were associated with explicit attribution of wisdom.”
Reflective orientation encompasses traits like logical thinking, emotional control, and the application of knowledge. Socio-emotional awareness, on the other hand, involves caring for others’ feelings and being attuned to social contexts.
Implications for Leadership and Trust
The research offers insights into how people worldwide might judge, support, and trust those in positions of influence. Dr. Igor Grossmann, senior corresponding author and director of the Wisdom and Culture Lab at Waterloo, provided a timely example:
“You could see it in the immediate aftermath of the infamous Trump-Biden 2024 presidential debate: both candidates did not appear reflective, yet Trump seemed to have won the debate with many viewers perceiving Biden as socio-emotionally well-meaning but cognitively frail.”
This observation highlights a crucial finding: while both dimensions contribute to perceptions of wisdom, reflective orientation appears to carry more weight. If someone is viewed as incapable of logical reflection, their socio-emotional competence may not compensate in terms of perceived wisdom.
Interestingly, participants tended to rate themselves lower than exemplars of wisdom in reflective orientation but were less self-critical when it came to socio-emotional characteristics.
Why it matters: This research has significant implications for fields such as leadership, education, and cross-cultural communication. Understanding how wisdom is perceived globally can help shape more effective strategies for building trust and credibility across diverse cultures and contexts.
The study’s wide-reaching scope, involving 26 research institutions coordinated by the Geography of Philosophy consortium, lends weight to its findings. By including participants from socio-economically and culturally diverse groups, the researchers have provided a robust foundation for further exploration of wisdom perception.
As we navigate an increasingly complex and interconnected world, the ability to recognize and cultivate wisdom becomes ever more critical. This study takes an important step toward understanding the universal principles that underlie our perceptions of wise individuals, potentially paving the way for more effective leadership and decision-making on a global scale.
