Forms of Intellectual Humility and Their Associations with Features of Knowledge, Beliefs, and Opinions

Abstract

“Forms of Intellectual Humility and their Associations with Features of Knowledge, Beliefs, and Opinions” describes two forms of intellectual humility, each reflecting an acknowledgment that one could be misguided or incorrect coupled with a willingness to consider alternative views and change one’s view if warranted. After reviewing the short history of empirical research on intellectual humility, the chapter summarizes conceptualizations of general intellectual humility, emphasizing its overlap with open-mindedness and dogmatism. It then discusses specific intellectual humility, the form of the construct evident in people’s views about particular domains, topics, and issues. After presenting a conceptual model of the relation between general and specific intellectual humility, the chapter presents new findings from research inspired by the model. The chapter concludes with a discussion of prospects for developing interventions to increase intellectual humility.