Promoting a growth mindset decreases behavioral self-handicapping among students who are on the fixed side of the mindset continuum

Abstract

The present study examined the interplay between chronic intelligence beliefs, manipulated intelligence beliefs and self-handicapping processes. Prior studies showed that holding more of a fixed intelligence theory makes one vulnerable to resorting to self-protective mechanisms such as self-handicapping, while growth intelligence mindset can serve as a protective factor for self-handicapping. However, no prior studies have examined the potential interaction between pre-experimental intelligence beliefs, the manipulation of intelligence mindsets and behavioral self-handicapping. Although in our student sample (N = 101) there was no main effect of the mindset manipulations, participants with more of an initial fixed mindset benefited a lot from a brief growth mindset manipulation and displayed the lowest levels of behavioral self-handicapping. The mindset manipulation had less effect on self-handicapping of originally more of a growth-mindset individuals. These laboratory results demonstrate the benefits of growth mindset triggers which can be especially beneficial to reduce self-handicapping of young adults with more of a fixed mindset in educational settings.

The Effect of Growth Mindset on Adolescents’ Meaning in Life: The Roles of Self-Efficacy and Gratitude

“…18 At present, many scholars claim that this theory is single-dimensional; that is, the way of thinking can change within a cognitive continuum, 19,20 so a fixed mindset is also called a low-growth mindset. 21 Research on growth mindset has produced many results in the field of learning and work, such as being beneficial to middle school students' learning engagement and academic literacy, 22,23 improving individual job satisfaction and achieving career success. 24,25 However, some scholars have argued that growth mindset can also help individuals develop healthy lifestyles, decrease bad living habits, predict individual mental health problems and increase happiness.…”

The effect of social networks on academic self-handicapping with the mediating role of self-regulatory learning strategies and academic achievement among EFL students

“…Hence, many studies have identified the factors and processes that lead to self-handicapping and its consequences (Núñez et al, 2021). Since self-handicapping is an avoidant behavior that leads to reduced performance and academic degradation, affects a person's personality and future adjustment, In recent years, academic self-handicapping has been proposed as a defect in self-regulation in the inability to control one's thoughts, emotions, feelings, and optimal performance by one's criteria (Khaneghahi et al, 2022;Török et al, 2022). Therefore, self-regulation is one of the essential variables in explaining the cause of self-handicapping.…”

“…In recent years, academic self-handicapping has been proposed as a defect in self-regulation in the inability to control one’s thoughts, emotions, feelings, and optimal performance by one’s criteria ( Khaneghahi et al, 2022 ; Török et al, 2022 ). Therefore, self-regulation is one of the essential variables in explaining the cause of self-handicapping.…”

Paying Attention to Mindset Measures: A Necessary Step to Move Beyond Mindset Controversies

“…A fixed mindset perspective tends to weigh against these same ideas given its emphasis on the stability rather than the malleability of abilities. Indeed, as originally conceived, fixed and growth mindset exist as both ends of a continuum and therefore differ by degree rather kind (Dweck & Leggett, 1988;Dweck et al, 1995;Mercer & Ryan, 2010;Török et al, 2022;Yeager & Dweck, 2020). This is a characterization that has implications for appropriate approaches to measurement and thus one to which we return shortly.…”