Dweck, Walton find developing current passions more effective than searching for one’s true passion

Growth mindsets lead to developing current passions; fixed mentalities lead to searching for new ones

Stanford researchers Carol Dweck and Gregory Walton, among other scholars, recently published “Implicit Theories of Interest: Finding Your Passion or Developing It?” The study suggests that spending effort developing one’s passions is more effective than looking for one’s true passion.

Paul O’Keefe, former a former Stanford postdoc, wondered why some people felt that they have interests that are inherent and have yet to be discovered, while other people might think interests can be cultivated and nurtured.

Walton and Dweck’s team subsequently researched the repercussions of believing in fixed interests, such as narrower interests.