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Dweck's mindset theory
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Do you think you can get cleverer? Carol Dweck argues that your answer to this question affects how you learn.
Fixed and growth mindsets
Fixed mindset: the belief that ability and intelligence are fixed traits that cannot be developed. People with a fixed mindset may avoid challenges, give up easily and feel threatened by others' success.
Growth mindset: the belief that basic abilities can be developed through effort. People with a growth mindset tend to welcome challenges, keep going after setbacks and learn from criticism.
Growth mindset: the belief that basic abilities can be developed through effort. People with a growth mindset tend to welcome challenges, keep going after setbacks and learn from criticism.
Ability and effort
In a fixed mindset, ability is what matters: if you need effort, you must not be clever.
In a growth mindset, effort is the path to improvement: mistakes are part of learning.
Dweck argues that the type of praise children get matters. Praising effort ('you worked really hard') encourages a growth mindset. Praising the person ('you're so clever') may encourage a fixed mindset.
In a growth mindset, effort is the path to improvement: mistakes are part of learning.
Dweck argues that the type of praise children get matters. Praising effort ('you worked really hard') encourages a growth mindset. Praising the person ('you're so clever') may encourage a fixed mindset.
Strengths and weaknesses
Strengths: supported by research such as Gunderson et al. (2013), who found that parents' praise for effort (process praise) predicted a growth-type mindset years later. It has useful applications: schools can praise effort and teach that the brain can improve with practice.
Weaknesses: it may ignore other factors, such as genes: a review by Bouchard and McGue (1981) of 111 studies found that IQ was more similar in people who were more closely related, suggesting intelligence is partly inherited. Mindset is hard to measure, often relying on self-report questionnaires, and some later school studies found smaller effects than expected.
Weaknesses: it may ignore other factors, such as genes: a review by Bouchard and McGue (1981) of 111 studies found that IQ was more similar in people who were more closely related, suggesting intelligence is partly inherited. Mindset is hard to measure, often relying on self-report questionnaires, and some later school studies found smaller effects than expected.
Jay fails a maths test and says, 'I'm just not a maths person.' Which mindset is he showing, and what could his teacher say?
- He believes his maths ability is fixed and cannot change.
- This is a fixed mindset.
- The teacher could praise his effort and suggest new strategies, showing that ability can grow.
Answer: A fixed mindset; the teacher could praise effort and strategies to encourage a growth mindset.
Dweck says people with a fixed mindset believe ability cannot change, while people with a growth mindset believe it develops through effort. Praising effort encourages a growth mindset. Gunderson et al. support the theory, but genes and other factors also matter.
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