diff --git a/server/src/systems/__tests__/socialSystem.test.ts b/server/src/systems/__tests__/socialSystem.test.ts
index 6ccffd6..887eced 100644
--- a/server/src/systems/__tests__/socialSystem.test.ts
+++ b/server/src/systems/__tests__/socialSystem.test.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { describe, it, expect } from 'vitest';
 import { World } from '../../ecs/World.js';
 import { socialSystem } from '../socialSystem.js';
-import type { Position, Needs, Movement, NPCBrain, SocialState, EntityId } from '@dflike/shared';
+import type { Position, Needs, Movement, NPCBrain, SocialState, EntityId, Stats, StatModifiers } from '@dflike/shared';
 import {
   AWARENESS_RADIUS,
   HUNGER_THRESHOLD,
@@ -43,6 +43,16 @@ function createNPC(
   return e;
 }
 
+function addStats(world: World, entity: number, overrides: Partial<Stats> = {}): void {
+  const base: Stats = {
+    strength: 10, dexterity: 10, constitution: 10, intelligence: 10, perception: 10,
+    sociability: 10, courage: 10, curiosity: 10, empathy: 10, temperament: 10,
+    ...overrides,
+  };
+  world.addComponent<Stats>(entity, 'stats', base);
+  world.addComponent<StatModifiers>(entity, 'statModifiers', { modifiers: [] });
+}
+
 describe('socialSystem', () => {
   describe('proximity detection', () => {
     it('initiates interaction when two idle NPCs are within awareness radius', () => {
@@ -289,4 +299,67 @@ describe('socialSystem', () => {
       expect(saAfter.partnerId).toBeNull();
     });
   });
+
+  describe('stat integration', () => {
+    it('high perception extends awareness radius', () => {
+      const world = new World();
+      // Place NPCs at distance 7 (outside default AWARENESS_RADIUS of 5)
+      const a = createNPC(world, 0, 0);
+      const b = createNPC(world, 7, 0);
+      addStats(world, a, { perception: 14 }); // +4 radius = 9
+      addStats(world, b);
+      socialSystem(world);
+      const sa = world.getComponent<SocialState>(a, 'socialState')!;
+      expect(sa.phase).toBe('facing');
+    });
+
+    it('low perception shrinks awareness radius', () => {
+      const world = new World();
+      // Place NPCs at distance 4 (inside default AWARENESS_RADIUS of 5)
+      const a = createNPC(world, 0, 0);
+      const b = createNPC(world, 4, 0);
+      addStats(world, a, { perception: 6 }); // -4 radius = 1
+      addStats(world, b, { perception: 6 }); // both have shrunk awareness
+      socialSystem(world);
+      const sa = world.getComponent<SocialState>(a, 'socialState')!;
+      expect(sa.phase).toBe('none');
+    });
+
+    it('high sociability reduces global cooldown', () => {
+      const world = new World();
+      const a = createNPC(world, 5, 5);
+      const b = createNPC(world, 8, 5);
+      addStats(world, a, { sociability: 15 }); // multiplier: 1 - 5*0.04 = 0.8
+      addStats(world, b);
+      const sa = world.getComponent<SocialState>(a, 'socialState')!;
+      const sb = world.getComponent<SocialState>(b, 'socialState')!;
+      sa.phase = 'emoting'; sa.partnerId = b; sa.phaseTimer = 1;
+      sb.phase = 'emoting'; sb.partnerId = a; sb.phaseTimer = 1;
+      socialSystem(world);
+      const saAfter = world.getComponent<SocialState>(a, 'socialState')!;
+      // 50 * 0.8 = 40
+      expect(saAfter.globalCooldown).toBe(40);
+    });
+
+    it('high empathy biases positive outcome', () => {
+      const world = new World();
+      let positiveCount = 0;
+      const trials = 200;
+      for (let i = 0; i < trials; i++) {
+        const w = new World();
+        const a = createNPC(w, 5, 5);
+        const b = createNPC(w, 8, 5);
+        addStats(w, a, { empathy: 18 }); // +0.24 bias = 0.74 chance
+        addStats(w, b, { empathy: 18 });
+        const sa = w.getComponent<SocialState>(a, 'socialState')!;
+        const sb = w.getComponent<SocialState>(b, 'socialState')!;
+        sa.phase = 'pausing'; sa.partnerId = b; sa.phaseTimer = 1;
+        sb.phase = 'pausing'; sb.partnerId = a; sb.phaseTimer = 1;
+        socialSystem(w);
+        const saAfter = w.getComponent<SocialState>(a, 'socialState')!;
+        if (saAfter.outcome === 'positive') positiveCount++;
+      }
+      expect(positiveCount).toBeGreaterThan(100);
+    });
+  });
 });
diff --git a/server/src/systems/socialSystem.ts b/server/src/systems/socialSystem.ts
index 15eaa5d..9aefa53 100644
--- a/server/src/systems/socialSystem.ts
+++ b/server/src/systems/socialSystem.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import {
   type SocialState, type Position, type Movement, type NPCBrain, type Needs, type EntityId,
 } from '@dflike/shared';
 import type { World } from '../ecs/World.js';
+import { getEffectiveStat } from './statHelpers.js';
 
 function directionTo(from: Position, to: Position): number {
   const dx = to.x - from.x;
@@ -86,22 +87,28 @@ export function socialSystem(world: World): void {
         partnerSocial.phase = 'pausing';
         partnerSocial.phaseTimer = PAUSING_DURATION;
       } else if (social.phase === 'pausing') {
-        const outcome = Math.random() < 0.5 ? 'positive' : 'negative';
+        const empA = getEffectiveStat(world, e, 'empathy');
+        const positiveChanceA = 0.5 + (empA - 10) * 0.03;
+        const outcome = Math.random() < positiveChanceA ? 'positive' : 'negative';
         social.phase = 'emoting';
         social.phaseTimer = EMOTING_DURATION;
         social.outcome = outcome;
+        const empB = getEffectiveStat(world, partnerId!, 'empathy');
+        const positiveChanceB = 0.5 + (empB - 10) * 0.03;
         partnerSocial.phase = 'emoting';
         partnerSocial.phaseTimer = EMOTING_DURATION;
-        partnerSocial.outcome = Math.random() < 0.5 ? 'positive' : 'negative';
+        partnerSocial.outcome = Math.random() < positiveChanceB ? 'positive' : 'negative';
       } else if (social.phase === 'emoting') {
-        social.globalCooldown = SOCIAL_GLOBAL_COOLDOWN;
+        const socA = getEffectiveStat(world, e, 'sociability');
+        social.globalCooldown = Math.round(SOCIAL_GLOBAL_COOLDOWN * (1 - (socA - 10) * 0.04));
         social.pairCooldowns.set(partnerId!, SOCIAL_PAIR_COOLDOWN);
         social.phase = 'none';
         social.partnerId = null;
         social.phaseTimer = 0;
         social.outcome = null;
 
-        partnerSocial.globalCooldown = SOCIAL_GLOBAL_COOLDOWN;
+        const socB = getEffectiveStat(world, partnerId!, 'sociability');
+        partnerSocial.globalCooldown = Math.round(SOCIAL_GLOBAL_COOLDOWN * (1 - (socB - 10) * 0.04));
         partnerSocial.pairCooldowns.set(e, SOCIAL_PAIR_COOLDOWN);
         partnerSocial.phase = 'none';
         partnerSocial.partnerId = null;
@@ -136,7 +143,9 @@ export function socialSystem(world: World): void {
 
       const otherPos = world.getComponent<Position>(other, 'position')!;
       const dist = manhattanDist(pos, otherPos);
-      if (dist <= AWARENESS_RADIUS && dist < closestDist) {
+      const perceptionA = getEffectiveStat(world, e, 'perception');
+      const awarenessA = AWARENESS_RADIUS + (perceptionA - 10);
+      if (dist <= awarenessA && dist < closestDist) {
         closestDist = dist;
         closestTarget = other;
       }