Dweck’s mindset theory builds on and develops the cognitive theory of motivation in psychology. Proponents of this theory of motivation view human behaviors as products of the way humans process and interpret the information they collect from the world around them. Cognitive theory directly challenges the notion of human behaviors as automated responses that are hardwired to fulfill basic needs. Instead, cognitive theorists assume that behaviors arise from deliberative thought processes that quickly weigh new information against past knowledge, core beliefs, and expectations to determine an appropriate response to a given situation. Cognitive theorists argue that because behaviors are not hardwired, they can be changed, often through cognitive behavior therapy, which seeks to help patients become aware of their internal thought processes and then adjust their beliefs and expectations to move themselves toward more desirable behaviors. For example, a person with a fear of spiders may have an underlying assumption that spiders wish them harm. By recognizing that their fear arises from this belief, not from the spider itself, they can actively disrupt their distorted expectations and overcome their fear.

Mindset theory stems from observing how constant social messaging regarding failure, challenges, and setbacks sets up core beliefs and expectations from childhood that motivate people to have either reactive responses or proactive responses to new failures, setbacks, and challenges.