Premium
Mindsets are contagious: The social contagion of implicit theories of intelligence among classmates
Author(s) -
King Ronnel B.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
british journal of educational psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.557
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 2044-8279
pISSN - 0007-0998
DOI - 10.1111/bjep.12285
Subject(s) - mindset , psychology , social psychology , emotional contagion , malleability , sample (material) , developmental psychology , encryption , philosophy , chemistry , epistemology , ciphertext , chromatography , computer science , operating system
Background Beliefs about the malleability of intelligence (fixed or growth mindsets) are strongly influenced by teachers and parents. However, the social contagion of mindsets among one's classmates has not been given sufficient attention. Aims This study aimed to examine the social contagion of mindsets among one's peers by investigating the relationship between classmates' mindsets and one's own mindset. Sample In Study 1, 676 students nested within 19 classes were surveyed, and in Study 2, 848 students nested within 30 classes participated. Methods Students were surveyed across two time points 7 months apart. Multilevel modelling was used. Results The mindset of one's classmates at Time 1 predicted one's own mindset at Time 2 even after adjusting for one's own Time 1 mindset. These effects held even after controlling for demographic variables, social desirability, and achievement goals. Conclusion The current study provided evidence for the social contagion of mindsets. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.