Intellectual humility predicts mastery behaviors when learning

Abstract Mastery behaviors—such as seeking challenges and persisting after setbacks—can advance learning, but less is known about dispositions that promote them. In five studies (N = 1074), we find intellectual humility predicts mastery behaviors independent of a growth mindset. In Study 1, those higher in intellectual humility invested more effort to learn about a topic they initially failed to master. In Studies 2 and 3, high school students with more intellectual humility had higher mastery responses and higher teacher-reported mastery behaviors. In Study 4, intellectually humble high school students had higher mastery behaviors on a performance task. In Study 5, participants encouraged to be more intellectually humble invested more effort to learn about a topic they initially failed to master. The overall effect size across studies was 0.17 after accounting for growth mindset and gender, suggesting that intellectual humility boosts pursuit of mastery.