Mindsets: Fixed vs. Growth

There are two mindsets: Fixed and Growth

Are people born smart? Do these people succeed easily?

Prime Minister Winston Churchill REPEATED a grade during elementary school Winston Churchill REPEATED a grade during elementary school He was placed in the LOWEST division of the LOWEST class He was placed in the LOWEST division of the LOWEST class

Composer Beethoven’s teacher called him a HOPELESS composer Beethoven’s teacher called him a HOPELESS composer He wrote 5 of his greatest SYMPHONIES while DEAF He wrote 5 of his greatest SYMPHONIES while DEAF

Writer Leo Tolstoy dropped out of college He was described as both “UNABLE and unwilling to LEARN" He was described as both “UNABLE and unwilling to LEARN"

Role models ….Einstein's teacher said that he was ‘academically subnormal ’ ….Michael Jordan's coach said that he wasn’t more talented than other people … …..Walt Disney was told that he lacked ‘creative imagination’

The two mindsets:

Fixed: Those with a FIXED MINDSET tend to create PERFORMANCE goals. Those with a FIXED MINDSET tend to create PERFORMANCE goals. They believe that a person’s POTENTIAL can be MEASURED. They aim to receive validation from others. They believe that a person’s POTENTIAL can be MEASURED. They aim to receive validation from others. Receiving low marks mean that they are not smart. Receiving low marks mean that they are not smart. Both success and failure cause ANXIETY. Both success and failure cause ANXIETY.

When faced with failure or challenge, people with a FIXED mindset: do not pay attention to learning information do not pay attention to learning information get depressed, become de-energised and lose self-esteem get depressed, become de-energised and lose self-esteem denigrate their intelligence: ‘I am stupid’, they’ll think denigrate their intelligence: ‘I am stupid’, they’ll think under-represent past successes and over- represent failures (pessimism) under-represent past successes and over- represent failures (pessimism) explain the cause of events as something stable about them. explain the cause of events as something stable about them.

Growth: Those with a growth mindset tend to create LEARNING goals. Those with a growth mindset tend to create LEARNING goals. The goal is MASTERY and COMPETENCE. The goal is MASTERY and COMPETENCE. Scores and marks reflect how people are doing NOW and do not measure a person’s potential. Scores and marks reflect how people are doing NOW and do not measure a person’s potential. Creating goals for learning has shown to INCREASE PERFORMANCE and enjoyment and decrease negative emotion. Creating goals for learning has shown to INCREASE PERFORMANCE and enjoyment and decrease negative emotion.

Pay attention to learning I Pay attention to learning I Focus on what they are learning, rather than focusing on how they feel. Focus on what they are learning, rather than focusing on how they feel. Try out new ways of doing things and seek out challenges Try out new ways of doing things and seek out challenges Use self-motivating statements such as ‘ the harder it gets the harder I try’. Use self-motivating statements such as ‘ the harder it gets the harder I try’. Don’t always know how to do something at first Don’t always know how to do something at first

Effort Those with a fixed mindset view effort as a reflection of low intelligence. Those with a fixed mindset view effort as a reflection of low intelligence. Hard work means ‘I don’t get it’, ‘I’m unintelligent Hard work means ‘I don’t get it’, ‘I’m unintelligent Effort = lack of ability Effort = lack of ability Those with a growth mindset see effort as a necessary part of success. Those with a growth mindset see effort as a necessary part of success. They try harder when faced with a setback. They try harder when faced with a setback. Effort = success. Effort = success. They use effort to overcome difficulty. They use effort to overcome difficulty.

Strategies: growth mindset People adopting a growth mindset tend to generate other, and new, ways to do things. People adopting a growth mindset tend to generate other, and new, ways to do things. If one route doesn’t work they will try others. If one route doesn’t work they will try others. They will think ‘outside of the box’ to solve problems because they believe that they ‘can’. They will think ‘outside of the box’ to solve problems because they believe that they ‘can’.

Strategies: fixed mindset Carol Dweck has found that students with a fixed mindset keep using the wrong strategy when faced with a problem. Carol Dweck has found that students with a fixed mindset keep using the wrong strategy when faced with a problem. Then they disengage from the problem. Then they disengage from the problem. Finally, they give up. Finally, they give up.

All of the areas of the brain …like sound, communication, problem-solving… are made of cells called NEURONS They transmit information all around the brain.

Neurons pass information through CONNECTIONS with other neurons at SYNAPSES

Learning helps our neurons GROW. The more we learn, the more connections they make.

As you approach a challenge: THE FIXED-MINDSET says “Are you sure you can do it? Maybe you don’t have the talent.” THE FIXED-MINDSET says “Are you sure you can do it? Maybe you don’t have the talent.” THE GROWTH-MINDSET answers, “I’m not sure I can do it now, but I think I can learn to with time and effort.” THE GROWTH-MINDSET answers, “I’m not sure I can do it now, but I think I can learn to with time and effort.” FIXED MINDSET: “What if you fail—you’ll be a failure” FIXED MINDSET: “What if you fail—you’ll be a failure” GROWTH MINDSET: “Most successful people had failures along the way.” GROWTH MINDSET: “Most successful people had failures along the way.” FIXED MINDSET: “If you don’t try, you can protect yourself and keep your dignity.” FIXED MINDSET: “If you don’t try, you can protect yourself and keep your dignity.” GROWTH MINDSET: “If I don’t try, I automatically fail. Where’s the dignity in that?” GROWTH MINDSET: “If I don’t try, I automatically fail. Where’s the dignity in that?” As you hit a setback: As you hit a setback: FIXED MINDSET: “This would have been a snap if you really had talent.” FIXED MINDSET: “This would have been a snap if you really had talent.” GROWTH MINDSET: “That is so wrong. Basketball wasn’t easy for Michael Jordan and science wasn’t easy for Thomas Edison. They had a passion and put in tons of effort. GROWTH MINDSET: “That is so wrong. Basketball wasn’t easy for Michael Jordan and science wasn’t easy for Thomas Edison. They had a passion and put in tons of effort. As you face criticism: As you face criticism: FIXED MINDSET: “It’s not my fault. It was something or someone else’s fault.” FIXED MINDSET: “It’s not my fault. It was something or someone else’s fault.” GROWTH MINDSET: “If I don’t take responsibility, I can’t fix it. Let me listen— however painful it is– and learn whatever I can.” GROWTH MINDSET: “If I don’t take responsibility, I can’t fix it. Let me listen— however painful it is– and learn whatever I can.”