Entity morality beliefs increase prosocial behaviours: A self‐attribution perspective

Abstract

Incremental/entity beliefs refer to individuals' views on whether traits are malleable/static. Previous research, mostly from a target attribution perspective, identified a positive relationship between entity beliefs and harsh moral judgements towards moral transgressors. Little research has examined the relationships between entity beliefs and positive moral behaviours (e.g., prosocial behaviours) from a self‐attribution perspective. The current study filled this gap. Two correlational studies, Studies 1a ( N  = 1229) and 1b ( N  = 328), revealed positive correlations between entity beliefs, prosocial behaviours and the tendency to attribute behaviours to one's own traits. In Study 2 ( N  = 167), beliefs were manipulated. Entity theorists exhibited higher levels of helping intentions and self‐trait attribution than incremental theorists. Studies 3a ( N  = 1737) and 3b ( N  = 183) further explored the moderating effects of prosocial cost and helping efficacy and found that by holding a strong connection between one's own traits and behaviour, entity theorists were less influenced by increased prosocial costs and reduced helping efficacy compared to incremental theorists. These findings establish a more grounded and dialectical understanding of entity and incremental beliefs.