Less Noise, More Poise: The Causes and Consequences of Perceiving Maturity in Others

Abstract: People frequently describe maturity as an important and desirable quality in others, but little empirical research has examined the role of perceived maturity in interpersonal judgment and behavior. In the current research, we seek to understand what specific characteristics and behaviors lead observers to perceive a target individual as (im)mature, and what downstream interpersonal consequences these perceptions have. In a preregistered pilot study, we found that perceptions of maturity relate to several mental, social, and emotional capacities, such as responsibility, self-control, and self-awareness. We also found some preliminary results suggesting that perceptions of maturity may differ by gender. In follow-up studies, we intend to test how perceptions of maturity impact downstream behaviors toward the target individual—in particular, how perceiving a target as (im)mature affects one’s trust toward that target and one’s willingness to confer power to that target, and how such perceptions may interact with the target’s gender.

Keywords: maturity, interpersonal judgment, power, trust