Mindset as Characteristic Adaptations: Using Response Surface Analysis to Assess Mindset in the Personality System

Juliette L Ratchford; Emily G Williams; Leanne Bishara; Benjamin J Houltberg; Sarah A Schnitker

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.701510

Mindset as Characteristic Adaptations: Using Response Surface Analysis to Assess Mindset in the Personality System

Front Psychol. 2021 Jul 20:12:701510. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.701510. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Juliette L Ratchford¹, Emily G Williams¹, Leanne Bishara², Benjamin J Houltberg³, Sarah A Schnitker¹

Affiliations

¹ Science of Virtues Laboratory, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Baylor University, Waco, TX, United States.
² Fuller Theological Seminary, School of Psychology, Pasadena, CA, United States.
³ Search Institute, Minneapolis, MN, United States.

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the congruencies and discrepancies between mindset domains in relation to well-being and sought to demonstrate that mindset falls into the characteristic adaptation level of personality. Data (N = 618, M _age = 16.07, SD _age = 0.99) from Wave 1 of a longitudinal study on primarily ethnic-minority adolescents were used in response surface analyses to examine the effects of (in)congruence on well-being. The response surface analyses suggested no overall congruence effect between moral and ability mindsets. However, two-thirds of the participants demonstrated differing levels of mindsets, highlighting the domain specificity of mindsets. Results suggest that mindsets are contextual, domain-specific constructs, suiting the characteristic adaptation level of personality. Congruence for moral and ability mindset does not affect adolescent well-being.

Keywords: characteristic adaptations; mindset; personality; response surface analysis; well-being.