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Who accepts responsibility for their transgressions?
Karina Schumann1, Carol S Dweck2
1Stanford University, CA, USA karinas@stanford.edu.
Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin
|September 26, 2014
Summary
People who believe personality is malleable are more likely to accept responsibility for wrongdoing. This belief, known as incremental theory, reduces the threat of admitting fault, fostering better reconciliation after offenses.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Personality Psychology
Background:
- Accepting responsibility is crucial for reconciliation after offenses.
- Transgressors may avoid admitting fault due to the perceived threat of blame.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of implicit personality theories on transgressors' willingness to accept responsibility.
- To determine if viewing personality as malleable (incremental theory) or fixed (entity theory) affects responsibility acceptance.
Main Methods:
- Four studies were conducted using a mix of real-world and hypothetical offenses.
- Correlational and experimental research designs were employed to examine the relationship between implicit personality theories and responsibility acceptance.
Main Results:
- Individuals with an incremental theory of personality were more likely to accept responsibility for their actions.
- Incremental theorists perceived accepting responsibility as less threatening and more of a growth opportunity.
Conclusions:
- Implicit theories of personality represent a significant individual difference factor influencing transgressors' responses.
- Promoting an incremental mindset may encourage more effective and adaptive responses following transgressions.
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