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Implicit Theories of Personality and Attributions of Hostile Intent: A Meta‐Analysis, an Experiment, and a Longitudinal Intervention
Author(s) -
Yeager David S.,
Miu Adriana S.,
Powers Joseph,
Dweck Carol S.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
child development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.103
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1467-8624
pISSN - 0009-3920
DOI - 10.1111/cdev.12062
Subject(s) - psychology , attribution , malleability , personality , attribution bias , social psychology , implicit personality theory , intervention (counseling) , big five personality traits , developmental psychology , encryption , ciphertext , psychiatry , operating system , computer science
Past research has shown that hostile schemas and adverse experiences predict the hostile attributional bias. This research proposes that seemingly nonhostile beliefs (implicit theories about the malleability of personality) may also play a role in shaping it. Study 1 meta‐analytically summarized 11 original tests of this hypothesis ( N = 1,659), and showed that among diverse adolescents aged 13–16 a fixed or entity theory about personality traits predicted greater hostile attributional biases, which mediated an effect on aggressive desires. Study 2 experimentally changed adolescents' implicit theories toward a malleable or incremental view and showed a reduction in hostile intent attributions. Study 3 delivered an incremental theory intervention that reduced hostile intent attributions and aggressive desires over an 8‐month period.