Scrutinizing Stereotypes about Scientists: Social Evaluations of Scientists and Their Impact on Prototypicality and Trust

Across four studies, we found that all scientific occupations we investigated (over 30) are seen as competent, relatively moral, and averagely sociable, though differences between occupations form several clusters. Scientific prototypicality of an occupation is based on perceptions of competence, while trust is based on perceptions of competence and morality.