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The Role of Children's Lay Theories About the Malleability of Human Attributes in Beliefs About and Volunteering for Disadvantaged Groups
Author(s) -
Karafantis Dina M.,
Levy Sheri R.
Publication year - 2004
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/j.1467-8624.2004.00666.x
Subject(s) - malleability , psychology , disadvantaged , social psychology , outgroup , similarity (geometry) , developmental psychology , encryption , ciphertext , artificial intelligence , computer science , political science , law , image (mathematics) , operating system
Two studies with 9‐ to 12‐year‐old children supported the hypothesis that lay theories about the malleability of human traits impact judgments of and behavior toward groups in need of volunteer help. The more children endorsed an incremental view (attributes can change), the more they reported liking, desiring social contact with, and perceiving similarity between themselves and a disadvantaged outgroup (homeless, UNICEF‐funded children). Moreover, children endorsing more of a malleable view reported greater past volunteering, active participation in collecting money for a UNICEF event, and intentions to volunteer again. These findings held when controlling for the effects of participants' gender, self‐esteem, and perceived social pressure to help others. How a malleable view and intergroup volunteerism may be mutually sustaining is discussed.