Growth mindset vs Fixed mindset
Yeager, David S et al. “The far-reaching effects of believing people can change: implicit theories of personality shape stress, health, and achievement during adolescence.” Journal of personality and social psychology 106 6 (2014): 867-84 .
Effects of fixed or growth mindsets on adolescent development through high school
Explanation This study explores the roles of fixed mindsets versus growth mindsets in the belief of adolescents that it is possible to change various aspects of their personal life. Students entering the ninth grade were given a survey with questions on whether they agreed with the entity theory of personality, which states that personality is an inborn trait that cannot be changed. They then documented the reported stress level, physical health and GPA. In a second and third experiment researchers held similar parameters but this time with incremental intervention so as to redirect the mindset of the experimental group as the year went on.
Results Students in the first study who accepted the entity theory of personality reported higher stress levels, lower physical health, and lower gpa on average than those who rejected the entity theory. The second study showed similar results with those undergoing incremental mindset intervention having reduced stress, higher physical health and GPA as the year went on as compared with the control group. This study thus shows replication and confirmation of the significant effect of fixed (entity) versus growth mindsets on development and quality of life.
