C021

Social Signal Sensitivity

B03 Social Cognition & Self-Direction
Core LayerMML-2

Version v1.3.2

Definition

The degree to which a person finely and quickly detects interpersonal cues: shifts in mood, tension, interest/withdrawal, boundary hints, micro-changes in tone and behavior.

Poles

Each HES element is a spectrum, not a category: the Low and High poles describe how it presents at its two extremes, while the Reference marks the typical, everyday middle. The poles map variation across the range — neither end is inherently better or worse.

Low Pole

Low sensitivity: often misses cues or registers them late; misreads atmospheres and subtext.

High Pole

High sensitivity: detects cues rapidly and accurately; reliably senses “what is happening between people” in the moment.

Reference

Clear cues are detected well; subtle ones are inconsistent, improving in familiar contexts.

Measure

Detection threshold for social cues: how subtle a cue can be before it becomes reliably detectable.

Measuring Methods

• Standardized video/audio clips: pinpoint when/what changed.
• Comparison to independent annotation (expert or consensus).
• Real-life episodes: latency and correctness of noticing interpersonal shifts.

Empirical Anchor

Social sensitivity / empathic accuracy (Ickes, 1997); thin-slice judgment (Ambady & Rosenthal, 1992).

Notes

• Distinct from cognitive empathy (C058): this is cue detection; cognitive empathy is causal modeling of inner states.
• Risks at MIN: avoidable misunderstandings and conflict.
• Risks at MAX: hyper-scanning and social fatigue.

Citation

APA

Human Elements System. (2026). Social Signal Sensitivity (HES Passport C021, v1.3.2). hestable.com. https://hestable.com/passport/C021

BibTeX

@misc{hes_C021, author = {{Human Elements System}}, title = {{Social Signal Sensitivity}}, year = {2026}, note = {HES Passport C021, v1.3.2}, howpublished = {\url{https://hestable.com/passport/C021}} }