Year: 2022
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Believing that attributes are fixed – “fixed beliefs” – is often associated with negative outcomes, but emerging evidence suggests that fixed beliefs can be beneficial. I suggest that for populations who have low control, fixed beliefs may be positively related to well-being through greater goal disengagement and lesser goal engagement. I investigated how fixed beliefs relate to control efforts and well-being in low-SES individuals (Study 1; n = 321) and older adults (Study 2; n = 418). Results suggest that fixed beliefs negatively relate to goal engagement, goal engagement positively relates with well-being, and fixed beliefs negatively impact well-being through decreased control efforts. In addition, goal disengagement positively relates with well-being for low-SES-individuals. Overall, the results suggest that even in low-control populations, fixed beliefs may negatively impact well-being and that control efforts are one mechanism through which this can occur.
Source: TSpace (University of Toronto)
Author: Lam, Qian Yi Elia
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7056818510