Growth Mindset and Intelligence Malleability
Growth Mindset and Intelligence Malleability: A Summary
A growth mindset is a belief that one's abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort, learning, and perseverance. The concept of growth mindset was first introduced by Stanford University psychologist Carol Dweck in her book "Mindset: The New Psychology of Success." Dweck's research has shown that individuals with a growth mindset tend to have greater motivation, resilience, and achievement than those with a fixed mindset. An example of a growth mindset would be a student who struggles with a difficult math problem, but instead of giving up or thinking that they're not good at math, they approach the problem with curiosity and a willingness to learn. They may seek help from a teacher or peer, or put in extra effort to understand the concept. They may also view the struggle as an opportunity to learn and improve their math skills.
This belief is in contrast to a fixed mindset, which holds that abilities and intelligence are predetermined and cannot be changed. There are several reasons why it is not beneficial to have a fixed mindset: Limited potential: A fixed mindset assumes that abilities and intelligence are predetermined and cannot be changed, which can limit an individual's potential for growth and development. This can lead to a lack of motivation and effort to improve and can result in missed opportunities for personal and professional growth. Fear of failure: A fixed mindset can lead to a fear of failure, as individuals may view mistakes and setbacks as a reflection of their inherent abilities, rather than as an opportunity to learn and grow. This can lead to a lack of risk-taking and experimentation, which can limit an individual's potential for success. Stagnation: A fixed mindset can lead to stagnation, as individuals may be less likely to seek out new challenges and experiences that can help them grow and develop. This can result in a lack of progress and development, both personally and professionally. Low self-esteem: A fixed mindset can lead to low self-esteem, as individuals may view their abilities and intelligence as fixed, rather than malleable. This can lead to a lack of confidence and self-worth, which can affect an individual's personal and professional life.
One key aspect of a growth mindset is the idea of intelligence malleability, which refers to the belief that one's intelligence can be developed and improved through effort and learning. This is in contrast to the belief in intelligence as a fixed trait that cannot be changed. The differences between these two subjects are as stated: A growth mindset is a general belief about the nature of abilities and intelligence, while intelligence malleability is a specific belief about the nature of intelligence.
They also are very similar in different ways. Both growth mindset and intelligence malleability share the belief that abilities and intelligence are not fixed, but rather can be developed and enhanced through hard work and persistence. This is in contrast to the belief that abilities and intelligence are predetermined and cannot be changed. Additionally, individuals with a growth mindset and those who believe in the malleability of intelligence tend to have similar attitudes and behaviors. They tend to have a positive attitude toward challenges, view failure as an opportunity to learn and improve, and put more effort into their work and studies. They also tend to have better academic and professional outcomes, such as higher grades and greater job satisfaction.
Both growth mindset and intelligence malleability can be cultivated in individuals through education and training. Teachers, parents, and coaches can promote a growth mindset and the malleability of intelligence by praising children and students for their effort and progress, rather than their innate abilities, and creating a culture that values learning and development over performance and achievement.
Vocabulary:
Growth mindset: The belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed and improved through effort and learning
Intelligence malleability: The belief that intelligence can be developed and improved through effort and learning.
Mindset: A set of beliefs and attitudes that shape an individual's understanding of themselves and the world around them.
Fixed mindset: The belief that abilities and intelligence are predetermined and cannot be changed.
Effort: The amount of time, energy, and resources that an individual puts into a task or goal.
Resilience: The ability to bounce back from adversity and continue to pursue one's goals despite setbacks.
Figures:
Carol Dweck-Dweck began her career studying motivation and achievement in children and adolescents. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, she became interested in the concept of mindset and began to explore the idea that people's beliefs about their abilities and intelligence could affect their motivation, achievement, and overall success in life.
Through her research, Dweck identified two main types of mindsets: fixed mindset and growth mindset. A fixed mindset is the belief that abilities and intelligence are predetermined and cannot be changed, while a growth mindset is the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed and improved through effort and learning.
Dweck found that individuals with a fixed mindset tend to avoid challenges, fear failure, and give up easily, while those with a growth mindset tend to embrace challenges, view failure as a learning opportunity, and persist in the face of adversity.
Dweck's research has shown that a growth mindset can lead to greater motivation, resilience, and success in personal and professional pursuits. Her work has been widely influential in the field of education and has led to the development of programs and interventions aimed at promoting a growth mindset in students.
Dweck's research has also been applied to other areas such as business, sport, and personal development, Dweck's work has been featured in several books, including her most famous one "Mindset: The New Psychology of Success" where she explains the concept of mindset and how the right mindset can change the way people think and approach their lives, making it one of the most popular books on personal development.
Dweck's research continues to be widely cited and her concept of growth mindset has become a popular topic in the field of psychology and education.
Teacher Connection:
The connection between a growth mindset and intelligence malleability and teaching is that teachers can play a significant role in helping students develop a growth mindset and understand that their abilities and intelligence can be developed and improved through effort and learning.
- Creating a positive learning environment: Teachers can create a positive learning environment by praising effort and progress rather than innate abilities. This can help students understand that their abilities can be developed through hard work and effort.
- Encouraging challenges and risk-taking: Teachers can encourage students to take on challenges and risks, and to view failure as an opportunity to learn and grow. This can help students understand that failure is not a reflection of their abilities, but rather an opportunity to learn and improve.
- Providing feedback: Teachers can provide feedback that focuses on the process and effort rather than the outcome. This can help students understand that their abilities can be improved through effort and learning.
- Modeling a growth mindset: Teachers can model a growth mindset by being open to new ideas and strategies, and by being willing to admit when they don't know something and seek out new information.
- Encourage a growth mindset language: Teachers can use the language of growth mindset in their classrooms, such as praising students for their hard work, effort, and perseverance rather than their talents and abilities, this can help students understand that abilities can be developed with effort.
By incorporating these strategies, teachers can help students develop a growth mindset, which can lead to greater motivation, resilience, and success in their studies and lives.
Activities:
- Goal-setting: Have students set specific, measurable, and achievable goals for themselves and track their progress over time. This can help students understand the importance of effort and persistence in achieving their goals.
- Reflection: Encourage students to reflect on their learning and progress. Have them identify areas where they struggled, what they did to overcome those struggles, and what they learned.
- Failure Fridays: Have a dedicated day of the week where students are encouraged to share their failures and what they learned from them. This can help students understand that failure is a natural part of the learning process and can be a valuable learning opportunity.
- Growth mindset affirmations: Have students create and display growth mindset affirmations in the classroom. Examples could be "I can do hard things" or "I will keep trying".
- Mindset book club: Create a book club where students read books that promote a growth mindset and discuss the themes and ideas from the book in a group setting.
- Role-playing: Have students role-play scenarios in which they encounter challenges and have to use a growth mindset to overcome them.
Practice quiz:
Which of the following best describes a fixed mindset?
- The belief is that abilities and intelligence can be developed and improved through effort and learning.
- The belief is that abilities and intelligence are set and cannot be changed.
- The belief is that abilities and intelligence are determined by external factors.
- The belief is that abilities and intelligence are determined by genetics.
Which of the following factors is NOT associated with the development of a growth mindset?
- Emphasizing innate abilities and intelligence
- Encouraging effort and persistence
- Praising strategies and problem-solving skills
- Promoting a belief in the brain's ability to change and adapt
Which of the following statements best describes the relationship between growth mindset and intelligence malleability?
- Growth mindset and intelligence malleability are interchangeable terms that describe the same concept.
- Growth mindset and intelligence malleability are related but distinct concepts, with growth mindset emphasizing the belief that intelligence can be developed and improved, and intelligence malleability emphasizing the brain's ability to change and adapt in response to learning and experience.
- Growth mindset and intelligence malleability are unrelated concepts that describe different aspects of human cognition.
- Growth mindset and intelligence malleability are outdated concepts that have been debunked by recent research.
How can a person work towards having a growth mindset? (Select all that apply)
- Share things with others
- Seek feedback and learn from mistakes
- Practice perseverance
- Work on becoming a happier person
In a study on the impact of a growth mindset intervention on math performance, students were randomly assigned to either a control group or an experimental group. The experimental group received instruction on the concept of a growth mindset and strategies for developing a growth mindset, while the control group received no such instruction. The study found that students in the experimental group improved their math performance to a significantly greater degree than students in the control group. This suggests that
- Having a growth mindset is necessary for success in all subjects including math.
- Math ability is not malleable and takes more effort.
- A growth mindset intervention can lead to improved performance in a specific subject such as math.
- The experimental group had a better math teacher than the control group.
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