The Intelligence Trap: Revolutionise your Thinking and Make Wiser Decisions

by David Robson

with many people misreading and misinterpreting her work. A Guardian article from 2016, for instance, described it as ‘the theory that anyone who tries can succeed’,30 which isn’t really a fair representation of Dweck’s own views: she is not claiming that a growth mindset can work miracles where there is no aptitude, simply that it is one of many important elements, particularly when we find ourselves facing new challenges that would cause us to question our talents. Common sense would suggest that there is still a threshold of intelligence that is necessary for success, but your mindset makes the difference in whether you can capitalise on that potential when you are outside of your comfort zone.