Blaming others for their illness: The influence of health?related implicit theories on blame and social support

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