Research On The Influence Of Implicit Theory On Intergroup Communication

Implicit theories are beliefs about the malleability of a certain structure(eg.personality,intelligence,morality),widely affecting individual’s social perception and behavior.Dweck developed implicit theories into two forms:entity theories and incremental theories,based on malleability.Implicit theories about groups are beliefs about whether a group is malleable or not.Latest studies about implicit theories have found that people who hold a malleable belief about groups have more contact willingness,less contact anxiety and are more prone to negotiate and compromise for peace.At the first beginning,this study introduced some useful information related to the topic,such as conflict resolution methods,implicit theories,conception of social distribution,relative studies abroad and at home.Based on previous works,this study conducted a correlational study to examine the relationship between implicit theories about groups,contact willingness,and the attitudes towards solving problems in a peaceful way.Then this study further tested whether the relationships identified in study one was causal,and added the perception of social distribution into the independent variables to test the effects of implicit theories about groups on it.And this study finally put forward some educational countermeasures to guide students to hold a incremental belief about groups,such as evaluative conditioning,cross-culture training and imagined contact.The goal of study 1 was to test the relationship between implicit theories about groups,contact willingness,and the attitudes towards solving problems in a peaceful way.For this purpose,we conducted a correlational study in which we measured the extent to which participants believe that groups are malleable,the willingness to contact with outergroups,and their attitudes towards solving the problem peacefully.It was found that implicit theories about groups were positively associated with contact willingness,and the attitudes towards solving problems in a peaceful way.The goal of study 2 was the test whether the relationships identified in Study 1 were causal.To address this goal,we employed an experimental design in which we manipulated incremental beliefs about groups.We added the perception of social distribution into the independent variables,to test the effects of implicit theories about groups had on it.We then examined the effects this had on participants’ contact willingness and their attitudes towards solving problems in a peaceful way and their perception of social distribution.Participants were randomly assigned to read an article that emphasized either the malleability of implicit theories about groups or their fixed quality.The study found that participants’ contact willingness and perception of social distribution were significantly different in different conditions,which means that implicit theories about groups had an causal effect on contact willingness and perception of social distribution.However,participants’ attitudes towards solving problems in a peaceful way were not significantly different,the reason maybe connected with our nation’s "peace is precious" cultural tradition.