University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Beliefs about intelligence and achievement-related behaviors

Bergen, Randall Scott

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/23614

Description

Title
Beliefs about intelligence and achievement-related behaviors
Author(s)
Bergen, Randall Scott
Issue Date
1991
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Dweck, Carol S.
Department of Study
  • Psychology, Social
  • Psychology, Personality
Discipline
  • Psychology, Social
  • Psychology, Personality
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
  • Psychology, Social
  • Psychology, Personality
Language
eng
Abstract
"Dweck & Leggett (1988) hypothesized that people's ""theories"" of intelligence (beliefs about the degree to which intelligence can be increased) make them vulnerable to helpless or mastery-oriented behavior following failure. I hypothesized that ""generality beliefs"" (beliefs about the degree to which intelligence is generally instrumental for achieving goals) would influence the intensity and scope of reactions to failure. Results of two studies supported the hypotheses. Students who believed intelligence was unchangeable but generally instrumental tended to perform better than others before and after an intellectual failure, but withdrew and showed defensive tendencies in the face of prolonged failure. Students who believed intelligence could be changed and that it was generally instrumental showed greater persistence in the face of prolonged failure. Students who believed intelligence had a narrow influence in life showed relatively neutral reactions. Implications for current attribution models of achievement-related behaviors are discussed."
Type of Resource
text
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/23614
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 1991 Bergen, Randall Scott

Owning Collections

Graduate Dissertations and Theses at Illinois PRIMARY
Graduate Theses and Dissertations at Illinois
Dissertations and Theses - Psychology
Dissertations and Theses from the Dept. of Psychology