Growth Mindset vs Fixed Mindset: How what you think affects what you achieve

Growth mindset or fixed mindset – can the way we think about ourselves and our abilities shape our lives? Absolutely. The beliefs we hold about our intelligence and talents not only affect how we feel, but also what we achieve, whether we stick to new habits, or how we develop new skills.

A growth mindset means you believe your intelligence and talents can be developed over time. A fixed mindset means you believe intelligence is fixed – so if you’re not good at something, you might assume you’ll never be good at it.

At Mindset Health, we’re all about helping people strengthen a growth mindset – not just for learning, but also for mental and physical well-being. This belief system plays a key role in motivation, resilience, and even how the brain and body communicate through the brain-gut axis in conditions like IBS.

Let’s explore growth vs fixed mindsets together, look at the science, and see how people can change their mindsets over time.

‍

Growth vs fixed mindsets for life

Science once told us that the human brain stopped developing in childhood. We now know that’s not true – thanks to neuroplasticity, the brain continues evolving throughout life, responding to experience and practice.

Despite this, some people still believe they’re stuck with the intelligence and talents they were born with. Psychologist Carol Dweck of Stanford University was the first to explore these contrasting ways of thinking about ability.

In her research, she described two main approaches:

• Fixed mindset: intelligence and ability are seen as innate and unchangeable or fixed and static. 

• Growth mindset: intelligence and ability can be developed through effort, strategy, and learning.

People with a fixed mindset typically believe their level of intelligence and abilities are fixed. As Dweck wrote, they think they “have a certain amount [of intelligence] and that’s that,” which often leads them to try to look smart rather than to learn.

People with a growth mindset, however, see not knowing something as temporary. They believe ability grows through persistence and good strategy. In Dweck’s words, “students understand that their talents and abilities can be developed through effort, good teaching, and persistence.”

Do you have a ‘growth’ or a ‘fixed’ mindset? Take the mindset quiz

What is a growth mindset – and why does it matter?

A growth mindset views intelligence and talent as qualities that can be developed over time. This doesn’t mean believing everyone can be a genius – it simply means that progress is possible with effort and practice.

A growth mindset also recognizes that setbacks are a necessary part of the learning process and allows people to ‘bounce back’ by increasing motivational effort.

This kind of mindset sees ‘failings’ as temporary and changeable, and as such, a growth mindset is crucial for learning, resilience, motivation, and performance.

Those who adopt a growth mindset are more likely to:

• Embrace lifelong learning
• Believe intelligence can improve
• Put in effort to learn
• View setbacks as temporary
• Value feedback as information
• Embrace challenges
• See others’ success as inspiration

This mindset fuels motivation, performance, and resilience. It’s also central to how we adapt to health challenges – for example, people with IBS who approach management with a growth mindset often find it easier to persist with therapies that retrain the brain-gut connection.
‍

What is a fixed mindset?

In a fixed mindset, people believe attributes such as talent and intelligence are static. They think they’re born with a certain level of ability that can’t change.

A fixed-minded person may avoid challenges, give up easily, or feel threatened by others’ success. They see failure as proof of limitation rather than an opportunity to learn.

By contrast, someone with a growth mindset might fail at a task but interpret that failure as feedback – a sign to practice more or change strategy.

People with a fixed mindset are more likely to:

• Believe intelligence and talent are static
• Avoid challenges
• Ignore feedback
• Feel threatened by success of others
• Hide flaws to avoid judgment
• Believe effort is pointless
• View feedback as criticism
• Give up easily
  ‍

Who identified the growth mindset?

Psychologist Carol Dweck of Stanford University first identified the concept of mindset in her studies on motivation and success.

In one study, high school students were given puzzles of increasing difficulty. Some students welcomed the challenge and viewed mistakes as opportunities – what Dweck later called a “growth mindset.”

Her research also showed that praising effort and strategy, rather than innate ability, leads to greater persistence and achievement. Later studies refined this insight: while effort matters, effective strategy and reflection are just as important. Effort should be directed, not endless.

So, when fostering a growth mindset, continue telling yourself "great effort" after finishing a task, but also look for ways to improve next time so you feel good in the short and long term.

What are the benefits of a growth mindset?

Studies by Dweck and others show that a growth mindset improves motivation, learning, and academic performance.

For example:

• Undergraduate students taught about neuroplasticity showed more enjoyment and persistence in science courses.
• Junior high students encouraged to adopt a growth mindset improved performance in maths and science.
• Growth-minded students consistently achieved higher grades and GPA than those with a fixed mindset.

Beyond education, research now links a growth mindset to lower burnout, reduced anxiety, and better coping with chronic stress. It also appears relevant to physical health: learning to view symptoms and habits as adaptable rather than fixed supports positive change – something seen in gut-directed hypnotherapy and cognitive retraining for IBS.

The neuroscience of a growth mindset

Using neuroimaging, researchers have found a link between a growth mindset and activation in two brain regions:

• Anterior cingulate cortex (ACC): involved in learning and control.
• Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC): involved in monitoring errors and adapting behaviour.

A growth mindset is associated with higher motivation and improved error correction. Brains with a growth mindset show stronger responses to information about how to improve. Meanwhile, in those with a fixed mindset, the brain is active when a person is being given information about their performance – for example, the results of a test. This suggests that people with a growth mindset are more focused on the process, rather than the result.

These findings align with what we know about the brain-gut connection: learning-focused attention and reduced threat perception can retrain neural circuits linked to stress and digestive function.

Can a person’s mindset change?

Absolutely! Just as we can learn new skills, we can also rewire our thought patterns. Neuroscience confirms that the brain remains plastic throughout adulthood – capable of forming and strengthening new connections through repetition and experience.

This means a person with a fixed mindset can develop a growth mindset over time. It also means people can learn to approach their health differently – by seeing symptoms, setbacks, and habits as part of a changeable system, not a permanent limitation.

How to develop a growth mindset

Researchers have shown it’s possible to promote a growth mindset by teaching people how the brain changes with effort.

Six practical ways to foster it:

1. Realise that scientifically, you can improve‍

The brain and body are designed to adapt. Every time you learn, new neural pathways form – strengthening your ability to grow.

2. Remove the ‘fixed mindset’ inner voice‍

Replace negative inner thoughts like “I can’t do this” with “I can learn this with practice.”

3. Reward the process

Celebrate effort and progress, not just outcomes. Praise the steps you took to improve.

4. Get feedback

Use constructive feedback as information, not judgement.

5. Get out of your comfort zone

Growth happens when you stretch beyond what's easy or familiar.

6. Accept failure as part of the process

Mistakes are data for learning. Each setback teaches something about what works next time.

‍

FAQs about growth mindsets

What is the difference between a growth mindset and a fixed mindset?
A growth mindset is the belief that abilities can be developed with effort and learning. A fixed mindset assumes intelligence and skill are static.

Can adults change their mindset?
Yes! Neuroplasticity continues throughout life, allowing adults to reshape thought patterns and develop growth-focused habits.

Can a growth mindset improve health?
Evidence suggests it can. A growth mindset reduces stress and increases persistence with behavioural change, supporting both mental and physical health – including brain-gut regulation in IBS.

How can I start developing a growth mindset?
Begin by recognising self-limiting thoughts, reframing them as learning opportunities, and focusing on effort, strategy, and progress rather than perfection.

The Wrap Up

The growth mindset is the belief that intelligence and ability can be nurtured through learning and effort. Growth-minded people see setbacks as a necessary part of the learning process and bounce back from ‘failure’ by increasing effort. This mindset has positive effects on motivation and academic performance in students.The limited evidence from neuroscience suggests the brains of people with a growth mindset are more active than those with a fixed mindset–particularly in areas associated with error-correction and learning.