Believing we can learn from our mistakes causes a change in brain reaction, according to new research.

“Every wall is a door,” Ralph Waldo Emerson once said. It is simply part of the human condition that we will make mistakes or encounter obstacles in our life. But we are vastly different in the way we interpret – and then actually deal with – these mistakes.

It really is a matter of mindset.

For some, mistakes (like failure, for example) are an invaluable learning experience. Mistakes are seen as a teaching moment to be embraced as a means to improve one’s self on the path to success. For others however, these same moments can be emotionally crippling. They serve as proof of what “cannot” be accomplished. This mindset can feed insecurities, damage self-esteem and hinder success.

Different Brain Reactions

According to a new study, which will be published in an upcoming issue of Psychological Science, researchers have found that people who think they can learn from their mistakes have a different brain reaction to mistakes than people who think intelligence is fixed.

“One big difference between people who think intelligence is malleable and those who think intelligence is fixed is how they respond to mistakes,” says Jason S. Moser, of Michigan State University. Studies have found that people who think intelligence is malleable say things like, “When the going gets tough, I put in more effort,” or “If I make a mistake, I try to learn and figure it out.” On the other hand, people who think that they can’t get smarter will not take opportunities to learn from their mistakes. This can be a problem in school, for example; a student who thinks her intelligence is fixed will think it’s not worth bothering to try harder after she fails a test.

The Power of Mindset

In Moser’s study, people who thought they could learn from their mistakes did better after actually making a mistake. In other words, they were able to “bounce back” based on their mindset. Their brains also reacted differently, producing a signal that said; “I see that I’ve made a mistake, so I should pay more attention.” Moser says. “This might help us understand why exactly the two types of individuals show different behaviors after mistakes.”

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The above story contains original content and information that is editorially adapted by The Healthy Mind staff from materials provided by the Association for Psychological Science and EurekAlerts!