Behavioral measures of humility: Part 2. Conceptual mapping and charting ways forward

Abstract

Given that current methodological approaches to humility have largely ignored behavioral measures, we sought to provide a conceptual map of behavioral assessments. Toward that end, we offer an initial map of conceptual bases and likely indicators for behavioral assessments of humility, and suggest a research agenda for advancing the scientific study of humility. Specifically, we discuss the four features of behavioral measures – scalability, specificity, sensitivity, and selectivity – that offer such assessments a great advantage over other methodological approaches. In addition, we make three empirically testable propositions, addressing methodological alignment, domain specificity, and social desirability, and discuss potential behavioral interventions for cultivating humility and implications for research and practice. We hope this empirically testable framework will provide a fruitful way for researchers to better conceptualize and measure humility.