Social cognition: Learning about what matters in the social world

Social-cognitive principles underlie people's learning about what matters i n:in the social world. The benefits of these social-cognitive principles re veal essential aspects of what it means to be human. But these social-cogni tive principles also have inherent costs, which highlight what it means to be 'only, human'. Social cognition is 'social' because what is lean;en conc erns the social world, and where the learning takes place is in the social world. This paper reviews the benefits and costs of both sides of social co gnition: (1) the cognition of social psychology principles of organization, explanation, knowledge activation : and use; and (2) the social psychology of cognition principles of shared reality role enactment, social positions and identities and internal audiences. The fact that these are inherent co sts of the same social-cognitive principles for which there are essential b enefits affords a new perspective on social-cognitive costs that is differe nt from either the classic 'conflict' perspective or the more current 'limi ted capacity' and 'dual-process' perspectives. This 'trade-off' perspective deepens bo;th our understanding of the true nature of these principles and our appreciation of our common humanity. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & S ons, Ltd.