Stereotype content model across cultures: Towards universal similarities and some differences

TLDR

The stereotype content model proposes universal principles linking societal stereotypes to social structure. Across 10 non‑US nations, the model confirms three universal similarities—warmth and competence differentiate stereotypes, many out‑groups receive ambivalent stereotypes, and high‑status groups are seen as competent—while revealing that collectivist cultures do not place reference groups in the most positive cluster, indicating out‑group derogation without reference‑group favoritism.

Abstract

The stereotype content model (SCM) proposes potentially universal principles of societal stereotypes and their relation to social structure. Here, the SCM reveals theoretically grounded, cross‐cultural, cross‐groups similarities and one difference across 10 non‐US nations. Seven European (individualist) and three East Asian (collectivist) nations ( N =1,028) support three hypothesized cross‐cultural similarities: (a) perceived warmth and competence reliably differentiate societal group stereotypes; (b) many out‐groups receive ambivalent stereotypes (high on one dimension; low on the other); and (c) high status groups stereotypically are competent, whereas competitive groups stereotypically lack warmth. Data uncover one consequential cross‐cultural difference: (d) the more collectivist cultures do not locate reference groups (in‐groups and societal prototype groups) in the most positive cluster (high‐competence/high‐warmth), unlike individualist cultures. This demonstrates out‐group derogation without obvious reference‐group favouritism. The SCM can serve as a pancultural tool for predicting group stereotypes from structural relations with other groups in society, and comparing across societies.