It lead Prof Dweck to revise her research to help people to recognise that we aren’t one or the other. We now recognise this as a false growth mindset. For example they may say, “I can’t teach you math because you have a fixed mindset.” Teachers holding this belief may use mindset as reason for a student failing to engage in the classroom. The old dichotomy lead people to label others as being either fixed or growth. When we adopt this view we give up at the first obstacle and let failure define us. While at other times we believe that our potential is limited by our deficiencies.

There are times when we believe we have enormous potential and we overcome set backs and see failure as a necessary part of getting better. We now recognise that we are all a mixture of both. Many years ago we believed that people had either a fixed or a growth mindset. People who embrace growth mindsets-the belief that they can become smarter if they work hard and persevere-may learn more and view challenges and failures as opportunities to improve and grow. This view creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment. Dweck’s findings also suggest that when people with fixed mindsets fail at something, as we all inevitably will, they tend to tell themselves they can’t or won’t be able to do it (“I just can’t learn to play music”), or they make excuses to rationalize the failure (“I would have passed the test if I had a better teacher”).Īlternatively, in a GROWTH MINDSET, people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work-brains and talent are just the starting point. Whereas, people with a more persistent growth mindset believe that they can substantially change their intelligence and personality with effort.ĭweck’s research suggests that when people adopt a FIXED MINDSET - the belief that they are either smart or talented or not and there is no way to change this - may learn less than they could while also shying away from challenges. They believe that talent alone creates success. In her book she provides a growth mindset definition.ĭweck’s work identified that people adopt one of two types of mindsets: “fixed” and “growth.” In a fixed mindset, people believe their basic qualities, like their intelligence or talent, are simply fixed traits. The concept of a growth mindset was developed by psychologist Prof Carol Dweck and popularized in her book, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success.

Carol s dweck ted talk