What contributes to the perception of wisdom? According to a study by researchers from the University of Waterloo, people assess wisdom by looking at how knowledge is utilized, logical thinking, and the consideration of others’ feelings across various cultures in 12 countries and five continents.
What contributes to the perception of wisdom? According to a study conducted by University of Waterloo researchers, individuals evaluate wisdom by how effectively knowledge is applied, how logically one thinks, and how well they consider the feelings of others, as observed in 12 countries spanning five continents.
The researchers delved into the core principles that shape our perceptions of wisdom, especially in areas like political leadership, science, and everyday life. Despite cultural differences, participants generally recognized two main aspects of wisdom: reflective orientation and socio-emotional awareness. Reflective orientation encompasses traits such as logical thinking, control over emotions, and practical application of knowledge. In contrast, socio-emotional awareness involves being considerate of others’ feelings and paying attention to social contexts.
“We were surprised to discover that these two dimensions were evident across all the cultural regions we examined, and both were linked to how people explicitly attribute wisdom,” noted Dr. Maksim Rudnev, a postdoctoral research associate in psychology at Waterloo and the lead author of the study.
This research offers insights into how individuals worldwide may evaluate, support, and trust leaders, educators, and others in influential roles. A noteworthy comparison is the public perception of former U.S. President Donald Trump versus current President Joe Biden.
“Although both aspects of wisdom interact, people tend to associate wisdom primarily with reflective orientation. If a person is seen as unable to reflect and think logically, being perceived as socio-emotionally competent or moral isn’t enough to offset that,” explained Dr. Igor Grossmann, the senior corresponding author and director of the Wisdom and Culture Lab at the University of Waterloo. “This was evident after the controversial Trump-Biden debate in 2024, where both candidates appeared lacking in reflection, yet many viewers perceived Trump as having outperformed Biden, who was viewed as well-intentioned but cognitively weak.”
The study was a collaborative effort involving 26 research institutions, organized by the Geography of Philosophy consortium. Researchers from North and South America (including Canada, U.S., Ecuador, and Peru), Asia (China, India, Japan, and South Korea), Africa (Morocco and South Africa), and Europe (Slovakia) participated.
In total, 2,707 participants from 16 diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds were involved. They were asked to evaluate 10 individuals, among them scientists, politicians, and educators, regarding their decision-making in challenging real-life scenarios that did not have straightforward answers. Participants rated the wisdom of these individuals as well as their own. The findings were then analyzed to unveil the underlying factors influencing perceptions of wisdom among different individuals and groups.
“A notable finding was that our participants viewed themselves as less wise than most exemplars in terms of reflective orientation, yet they felt less self-conscious about their socio-emotional traits,” remarked Rudnev.
“Understanding how wisdom is perceived globally carries significant implications for leadership, education, and cross-cultural communication. This research is a crucial step toward recognizing universal principles that shape perceptions of wisdom across various contexts.”
