Universität zu Köln

Dohle, Simone, Schreiber, Mike, Wingen, Tobias ORCID: 0000-0002-1559-859X and Baumann, Marie . Blaming others for their illness: The influence of health-related implicit theories on blame and social support. J. Appl. Soc. Psychol.. HOBOKEN: WILEY. ISSN 1559-1816

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Abstract

Some people believe that their own health is rather malleable and can be changed (incremental theory), whereas other people believe that their health is relatively fixed (entity theory). Previous research suggests that individuals who hold a strong incremental theory of health have more positive health-related attitudes and engage in more health-promoting behaviors in everyday life. However, less is known about the interpersonal effects of an incremental theory of health. A strong incremental theory of health could have detrimental consequences, such as increasing blame and reducing social support towards others who are ill. To test this, two studies (Study 1: N = 433, Study 2: N = 397) were conducted in which implicit theories of health (incremental vs. entity) were experimentally manipulated, and participants were presented with vignettes describing individuals suffering from different illnesses. The dependent variables included blame, sympathy, outcome expectancy, and social support. Study 1 demonstrated that an incremental theory of health increased blame towards people suffering from an illness, regardless of whether a physical or mental illness was presented, and blame indirectly attenuated social support. Study 2 showed that an incremental theory increased outcome expectancy, which indirectly amplified social support. In sum, this research suggests that an incremental theory of health may decrease social support via blame, but increases in outcome expectancy may counteract this effect.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Dohle, Simone UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Schreiber, Mike UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Wingen, Tobias UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0002-1559-859X UNSPECIFIED Baumann, Marie UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-579643
DOI:	10.1111/jasp.12844
Journal or Publication Title:	J. Appl. Soc. Psychol.
Publisher:	WILEY
Place of Publication:	HOBOKEN
ISSN:	1559-1816
Language:	English
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language PROTECTION MOTIVATION; SELF-EFFICACY; FEAR APPEALS; MINDSETS; ATTRIBUTIONS; ACHIEVEMENT; ATTITUDES; BELIEFS; BODY; CONTROLLABILITY Multiple languages Psychology, Social Multiple languages
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/57964