Wisdom in time: Reconciling static measurement with dynamic theories of intellectual humility, open-mindedness, and perspective-taking

We reflect on the concept of wisdom from a social psychological lens, with particular focus on the discrepancy between dynamic theories of wisdom and the largely atemporal nature of existing empirical evidence. Upon reviewing theoretical models of the key components of wisdom such as intellectual humility, open-mindedness, and empathy/perspective-taking, we outline how these characteristics differ across situational contexts. Next, we posit that the temporal dimension—essential to virtually all theories of wisdom—is paradoxically neglected or misinterpreted in empirical studies. Our findings are supported by a systematic review of literature, demonstrating that many conclusions about the development and effects of wisdom are based on insufficient, atemporal data. We outline several steps to address these challenges in wisdom and social psychological research more broadly, including enhanced sampling and modelling practices, to foster a temporally precise, social psychological understanding of wisdom-related characteristics.