Mindset: The New Psychology of Success

by Carol S. Dweck

Research by Claude Steele and Joshua Aronson shows that even checking a box to indicate your race or sex can trigger the stereotype in your mind and lower your test score.

After seven experiments with hundreds of children, we had some of the clearest findings I’ve ever seen: Praising children’s intelligence harms their motivation and it harms their performance.

“Son, it really makes me upset when you don’t do a full job. When do you think you can complete this?” “Son, is there something you didn’t understand in the assignment? Would you like me to go over it with you?” “Son, I feel sad when I see you missing a chance to learn. Can you think of a way to do this that would help you learn more?” “Son, this looks like a really boring assignment. You have my sympathy. Can you think of a way to make it more interesting?” or “Let’s try to think of a way to lessen the pain and still do a good job. Do you have any ideas?” “Son, remember I told you how tedious things help us learn to concentrate? This one is a real challenge. This will really take all your concentration skills. Let’s see if you can concentrate through this whole assignment!”

A growth mindset is about believing people can develop their abilities. It’s that simple. It can have many repercussions, but that’s what it is at its core.

And remember, we don’t have to always be praising. Inquiring about the child’s process and just showing interest in it goes a very long way.

Parents’ praise molds their children’s mindsets.

Second, it’s the way adults respond to children’s mistakes or failures. When a child has a setback and the parent reacts with anxiety or with concern about the child’s ability, this fosters more of a fixed mindset in the child.

the growth mindset, asking each child (and each other): “What did you learn today?” “What mistake did you make that taught you something?” “What did you try hard at today?”