Skip to main content
Merchandising/Marketing/Retailing: Management

Implicit Person Theory in Retail Mentoring: The Relationship Between Growth Mindset and Career Support

Authors
  • Steven McKinney orcid logo (University of Alabama)
  • Jessica L. Hurst (Iowa State University)

Abstract

This study explored growth mindset in retail career mentoring, Specifically, the relationship between implicit person theories, preferences to mentor professionals that are perceived to be from a different generations, and mentoring behaviors in retail careers. Implicit person theories (IPT) are beliefs we hold about our own and others' abilities and intelligence, commonly referred to as either growth or fixed mindsets. Researchers are increasingly applying IPT to the workplace factors including performance and management. This is one of the first studies to apply IPT to career mentoring in retail. Surveys were collected from 211 retail industry professionals in the US. T-test results indicate mentors with a growth mindset offered more career supporting behaviors than mentors with a fixed mindset. The relationship between IPT, intergenerational preference and mentoring career support were measured using PLS-SEM. Results indicate positiver relationships between growth mindset, intergenerational preferences and mentoring career support.

Keywords: mentoring, growth mindset, career mentoring, retail, PLS-SEM, intergenerational mentoring

How to Cite:

McKinney, S. & Hurst, J. L., (2025) “Implicit Person Theory in Retail Mentoring: The Relationship Between Growth Mindset and Career Support”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 81(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.18635

Downloads:
Download PDF
View PDF

55 Views

12 Downloads

Published on
2025-01-18

Peer Reviewed