Growth mindsets in academics and academia: a review of influence and interventions

Abstract

This review focuses on the nature, influence, and modifiability of academics’ mindsets. Synthesising the large, growing, and influential body of adult growth and fixed mindset research with applied research into academia, it documents emerging evidence suggesting an academic’s growth mindset can improve their personal performance, career success, and well-being–and some student, peer, and workplace outcomes. Commencing with a primer to the general research into the nature and effects of mindsets in adults, we recommend that while more and better applied research is needed, and there is sufficient general and research in academics to incorporate growth mindset principles into professional development for individual academics, managers and institutional leaders.