Moral fixedness: Morality seems less changeable than competence and warmth

In four studies, we investigate lay beliefs about trait changeability across three fundamental dimensions of social perception: competence, warmth, and morality. We find consistent evidence for moral fixedness—the belief that moral traits change less over time than traits related to competence or warmth. Participants believed that individuals who exhibited behaviors implying morality—particularly low morality—were less likely to change than those demonstrating comparable levels of competence or warmth. This moral fixedness belief appeared to stem from the assumption that morality reflects a person's core character. Moreover, it shaped social intentions: participants expressed lower willingness to collaborate with colleagues perceived as low in morality, a pattern explained by their presumed limited potential for change. We discuss implications for the broader belief that “people don't change,” for learning processes surrounding moral behavior, and for the consequences of moral attribution.