Implicit Theory of Intelligence refers to the extent at which an individual believes that their Intelligence is fixed (entity) or malleable (incremental).

Subjects holding an incremental theory of intelligence showed higher levels of mastery goals and less performance avoidance goals when compared to subjects with an entity theory of intelligence.

Enforcing the idea that intelligence is malleable rather than fixed could help to create more adaptive learning environments.

State University of New York at Buffalo

- Health
- Emotion
- Personality
- Intelligence
- World

Implicit Traits to Consider for Psychological Treatment

Dinger, F. C., & Dickhäuser, O. (2013). Does implicit theory of intelligence cause achievement goals? Evidence from an experimental study. International Journal of Educational Research, 61, 38–47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijer.2013.03.008

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Does implicit theory of intelligence cause achievement goals? Evidence from an experimental study

Implicit Theory of Health refers to the extent at which an individual believes that their health is fixed (entity) or malleable (incremental)

Implicit Theory of Health

Implicit Theory of Personality refers to the extent at which an individual believes that their personality is fixed (entity) or malleable (incremental).

Research looking at students entering college has compared various emotional factors between incremental and entity theories.

People who held an entity theory had:
- Lower emotional regulation self-efficacy
- Less favorable emotional experiences
- Less social support from new friends
- Lower well being
- Greater depressive symptoms

Implicit Theory of Personality

Implicit Theory of Intelligence

Implicit Theories of the World relate to how an individual sees themselves and the world as fixed or malleable.

Individuals with an entity view of the world may see social characteristics or traits as fixed.

People with an incremental view towards the world see their traits as malleable and capable of change

Implicit Theory of the World

Implicit Theory of Emotion refers to the extent at which an individual believes that their emotions are fixed (entity) or malleable (incremental).
This idea can also be extended to the idea of emotional intelligence.

A study provided evidence that implicit  theories of emotion can influence a person's performance on the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT). Adults with incremental theories of emotion scored higher on the MSCEIT when compared to entity theorists. Participants perceived both emotions and emotional intelligence as malleable, but emotions were seen as more malleable than EI.

Findings also suggested that women and young adults were more likely to be incremental theorists toward emotion and EI, than men and older adults.

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