Students' implicit beliefs about intelligence structure their inferences, judgments, and reactions to different actions and outcomes.
According to the Entity Theory, intelligence is a personal quality that is fixed and cannot be changed.
Entity Theorists
According to the Incremental Theory, on the other hand,
intelligence is not fixed and can be improved through enough effort.
Incremental Theorists
Holding either of these theories has important consequences for people. Studies have shown that entity theorists of intelligence react helplessly in negative outcomes. "That is, they are not only more likely to make negative judgments about their intelligence from failures, but also more likely to show negative affect and debilitation. In contrast, incremental theorists, who focus more on behavioral factors (e.g., effort, problem-solving strategies) as causes of negative achievement outcomes, tend to act on these mediators (e.g., to try harder, develop better strategies) and to continue to work towards mastery of the task" (Dweck, Chiu, & Hong, 1995, p. 268).
In their studies, Dweck, Bandura, and Leggett assessed students' theories of intelligence and found out that students who were holding an entity theory of intelligence chose the performance goals tasks more than those holding an incremental theory of intelligence when they were given options to choose between the tasks that represented performance goals and learning goals (cited in Dweck, Chiu, & Hong, 1995, p.274).
Are you an incremental theorist or entity theorist? Click here to take the test and find out! You can also download it and use it in your profession.
Download the questionnaire here.
Holding one of these theories predicts students' future academic performance. Entity learners will have a fixed mindset whereas incremental learners will have a growth mindset. To learn more about mindsets, click here.
According to the Entity Theory, intelligence is a personal quality that is fixed and cannot be changed.
Entity Theorists
- believe that even if people can learn new things their intelligence stays the same.
- will likely blame their intelligence and abilities for achievement failures.
According to the Incremental Theory, on the other hand,
intelligence is not fixed and can be improved through enough effort.
Incremental Theorists
- will blame lack of effort and/or strategy use that are possible to mediate negative outcomes.
- will likely act out and improve the situations with more effort.
Holding either of these theories has important consequences for people. Studies have shown that entity theorists of intelligence react helplessly in negative outcomes. "That is, they are not only more likely to make negative judgments about their intelligence from failures, but also more likely to show negative affect and debilitation. In contrast, incremental theorists, who focus more on behavioral factors (e.g., effort, problem-solving strategies) as causes of negative achievement outcomes, tend to act on these mediators (e.g., to try harder, develop better strategies) and to continue to work towards mastery of the task" (Dweck, Chiu, & Hong, 1995, p. 268).
In their studies, Dweck, Bandura, and Leggett assessed students' theories of intelligence and found out that students who were holding an entity theory of intelligence chose the performance goals tasks more than those holding an incremental theory of intelligence when they were given options to choose between the tasks that represented performance goals and learning goals (cited in Dweck, Chiu, & Hong, 1995, p.274).
Are you an incremental theorist or entity theorist? Click here to take the test and find out! You can also download it and use it in your profession.
Download the questionnaire here.
Holding one of these theories predicts students' future academic performance. Entity learners will have a fixed mindset whereas incremental learners will have a growth mindset. To learn more about mindsets, click here.
