Warmth and Competence in Interpersonal Comparisons: The Quiz Master Paradigm through the Lens of Compensation

Research shows that the two fundamental dimensions of warmth and competence often relate negatively in intergroup stereotypes. This 'compensation effect' emerges in group and person perception but has never been examined in situations of interpersonal comparisons involving the self as an individual. In three experiments, we adapted the Quiz Master paradigm to create a difference of competence between two contestants. Questioners and answerers (Expt. 1 to 3) as well as observers (Expt. 2 and 3) rated both contestants on warmth and competence. Results replicated the Quiz Master pattern in that questioners appeared more competent both for observers and answerers but not for questioners (Expt. 1 to 3). As predicted, observers manifested compensation by judging answerers warmer than questioners (Expt. 2 and 3). Whereas no compensation emerged for answerers, questioners generally perceived the answerer as warmer than themselves (Expt. 2 and 3). Overall, our results suggest that although observers rely on compensation, this was not the case for members of the interaction who showed reluctance to express any self-favoring judgments. These findings constitute a first contribution to the understanding of compensation outside of intergroup relations, and more broadly of interpersonal dynamics at work in social comparison situations.