The impact of implicit theories on blame and helping behavior: A dual-pathway model
Final Report Abstract
This project investigated the extent to which implicit theories influence helping behavior. Implicit theories are basic beliefs that people have about the malleability of human attributes. According to Dweck (2012, 2017), implicit theories can be divided into two categories: an incremental theory (“growth mindset”) refers to the belief that a certain attribute is changeable, whereas an entity theory (“fixed mindset”) is characterized by the belief that a certain attribute cannot be changed despite efforts for change. In this research project, a dual-pathway model of the influence of implicit theories on helping behavior was tested. This model posits that an incremental theory can, on the one hand, increase blame attribution and thereby reduce helping behavior. On the other hand, it can also increase the expectation that help will be effective, which in turn could promote helping behavior. The first part of the project examined how implicit theories about health influence the willingness to provide social support to individuals suffering from an illness. The studies showed that individuals with a health-related incremental theory attributed more blame towards people suffering from an illness; these blame attributions indirectly led to less social support. At the same time, it was found that an incremental theory could also have a positive effect on helping behavior by increasing the perceived efficacy of support—a result that supports the dual-pathway model. The second part of the project focused on the effects of an incremental theory in a workplace context. The studies revealed that a personality-related incremental theory—mediated by an increased response efficacy —was positively associated with the willingness to engage in coaching. However, there was no evidence of negative effects through blame attributions. Thus, the dual-pathway model was not confirmed in this context, but the findings suggest that promoting an incremental theory in the workplace likely contributes to a supportive workplace culture. In the third part of the project, it was examined how an incremental theory related to poverty influences the intention to help people in need. It was found that a povertyrelated incremental theory was associated with both a higher response efficacy and stronger blame attributions. These opposing effects canceled each other out, resulting in an overall null effect on helping behavior. This finding also supports the dual-pathway model and indicates that measures to strengthen the perceived response efficacy of helping behavior could be of practical relevance. Overall, this research project illustrates that an incremental theory can both promote and hinder helping behavior. While an incremental theory may be beneficial in achievement-related contexts (e.g., the workplace), it may also lead to less sympathy and more blame in social contexts such as poverty or illness. This underscores the importance of a nuanced understanding of implicit theories and their context-dependent effects on helping behavior.
Publications
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Blaming others for their illness: The influence of health‐related implicit theories on blame and social support. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 52(4), 210-219.
Dohle, Simone; Schreiber, Mike; Wingen, Tobias & Baumann, Marie
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Wer ist Schuld? Implizite Theorien („mindsets“) der Gesundheit und ihre Auswirkungen auf Schuldzuschreibungen und soziale Unterstützung von Erkrankten. Paper presented at the 7th Annual Conference of the Health Communication Chapter in the DGPuK, Bielefeld, Germany.
Dohle, S., Schreiber, M., Wingen, T. & Baumann, M.
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Mindsets and willingness to coach: The role of blame attributions, outcome expectancy, and a coachee's past performance. Paper presented at the IAREP SABE 47th International Conference, Nice, France.
Wingen, S., Wingen, T. & Dohle S.
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Auf das Mindset kommt es an: Wie unsere Einstellungen über Armut unsere Hilfsbereitschaft beeinflussen. In-Mind Blog,
Wingen, S., Graczyk, T. & Dohle, S.
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Do mindsets shape intentions to help those in need? Unravelling the paradoxical effects of mindsets of poverty on helping intentions. European Journal of Social Psychology, 54(3), 629-642.
Graczyk, Thomas; Wingen, Tobias; Wingen, Sophia & Dohle, Simone
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Mindsets at Work: Understanding the Positive Impact of Growth Mindsets on Workplace Coaching. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 46(5), 381-397.
Wingen, Sophia; Graczyk, Thomas; Wingen, Tobias & Dohle, Simone
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Das bringt was! Wie unser Mindset uns zum Coachen motiviert. In-Mind Blog
Wingen, S., Graczyk, T., Wingen., T. & Dohle, S.
