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The effects of gender and parenthood on perceptions of warmth and competence were investigated in this study. When women become working mothers, their perceptions of warmth increase, but at the cost of reduced perceived competence, whereas men who become fathers gain perceived warmth, in addition to perceived competence (Cuddy, Fiske, & Glick, 2004). In this study, participates read a short description of a candidate for a server position for a restaurant and then viewed one of four pictures (a female shown alone, a female holding a baby, a male shown alone, a male shown holding a baby). Following this, participants rated the candidate on several traits related to warmth (warm, sincere, etc.) and competence (skillful, capable, etc.). It was hypothesized that the male holding the baby would be perceived as higher in warmth compared to the same man shown without the baby, but that his competence would be rated high regardless of the picture. It was also hypothesized that the female holding the child would be rated higher in warmth compared to the same woman shown alone. Finally, it was also expected that participants would rate the woman with the baby lower in perceived competence, compared to the woman alone. The results were mixed. The male target with the child was perceived as warmer compared to the same male shown alone and his competence ratings didn't change. This finding supported one of the hypotheses of the study. However, there were no differences observed the in female target's perceived warmth or competence in either of the picture manipulations.
