A Growth Mindset
Do setbacks paralyze you?
Does criticism make you feel incompetent?
Did you know that a simple belief has the power to transform your thoughts and actions?
Research tells us that the view you adopt for yourself profoundly affects the way you lead your life.
A person with a fixed mindset believes the qualities that determine your intelligence and abilities are set at birth and cannot be changed.
On the other hand, a growth mindset is based on a belief that intelligence can be cultivated through commitment and strategic effort. Everyone can change and grow through application and experience.
- Carol Dweck, Psychologist, Stanford University
Stanford psychologist, Carol Dweck says, “…scientists are learning that people have more capacity for lifelong learning and brain development than they ever thought.”
Here is an example from Dweck’s book, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success.
In one of her research studies, a group of African American students were asked to write an essay for a competition. A distinguished Ivy League professor would evaluate the essays. The professor’s feedback was critical but helpful. The students’ reactions reflected the two mindsets: fixed or growth.
Those with
the fixed mindsets viewed the feedback on their essay as a threat, an insult or an attack. They rejected the professor’s feedback. They called his comments, “…pompous, mean, and biased,” claiming that the professor “didn’t understand…was looking for anything to discredit the work…dislikes creativity.”
Those with the growth mindset also viewed the professor as a dinosaur, but he was a dinosaur who could teach them something. Their comments on his feedback were, “…arrogant and over demanding but fair…a new challenge. His evaluation was honest and specific…intensely critical but a stimulus to produce better work. I will learn much from him.”
The growth mindset allowed the student to accept the critical feedback on their essays and use it to improve and get an education. A growth mindset will allow a person to thrive despite a threatening environment.
Know it or not, we each keep a recording of everything that happens to us, what it means and what we should do. Our minds are monitoring and interpreting all the time. A fixed mindset or a growth mindset guides the interpretation of life’s events.
A fixed mindset judges a daily event by saying, “This means I am a loser. I’m a bad person.” or “I’m better than they are. That person is selfish.” In several studies, Dweck found that a fixed mindset person puts a strong evaluation on every piece of information. Something good happens receives a very strong positive label and something bad receives a very strong negative label.
People with a growth mindset are also interpreting life’s events. They are also aware of positive and negative information but their focus is on the implications for learning and constructive actions. A growth mindset experiences positive or negative events and asks: What can I learn from this? How can I improve? How can I help?
How does a student with fixed mind set view failure?
“I didn’t work fast enough to finish on time. I’m not smart.”
“If I were intelligent enough it wouldn’t be this hard for me.”
“I hate this class. This professor doesn’t like me.”
How does a student with a growth mindset view failure?
“I put a lot of work and effort into this paper and still didn’t get a good grade. Let’s talk it over with the teacher and figure out what I don’t understand.”
“It may take me more time to catch on and be comfortable with this material, but if I keep at it I will.”
“Everyone learns in a different way. I’m gonna keep trying to find the way that works best for me.”
In Mindset, Dweck concludes years of research with this assertion, “you should keep a growth mindset in your thoughts.” With it you can face difficult people and hostile environments and find a path to your future.
Ruth Bomar, coaching students to learn how to learn.
As an academic coach, I work with students helping them reach their academic goals. Establishing a growth mindset is a key component to success in school. Contact me if you would like a free 30-minute academic coaching session to help you learn about a growth mindset.