1. Roadmap Self theories Cognition and motivation Introduction
Performance and Achievement
Introduction
Issues and questions
Developmental Psychology

2. Cognition and Motivation example

3. What accounts for school/college/work performance?

4. What accounts for performance?
ANSWERS
Scarr: Inherited genes for intelligence
Baumrind: Parenting styles that determine child outcomes (e.g., the environment)
Both are incomplete explanations because they do not take into account the complexity of development (and domain interactions!)

5. How do people view their own intelligence?

8. Carol Dweck and Self-Theories
Two different self-views about ability
1. Entity “theorists” (fixed mindset)
2. Incremental “theorists” (growth mindset)
Major implications for motivation and achievement

9. Entity “theorists” Ability is a stable entity or trait
Intelligence is fixed/permanent
“I’m not smart enough to make an A in this class”
Concerned with performance vs. mastery of difficult material.
When fail, evaluate themselves negatively
Consequently, give up and lose the motivation to succeed.
“I’ll never understand this material so why bother studying”

10. Incremental “theorists”
Ability is malleable and can change with work, effort, and practice.
Concerned with mastery and learning vs. performance
Don’t make global negative judgments
More resilient and persistent.
Focus on what is needed for success
“I really need to study more to bring my grade up”
They remain motivated even after failure. Instead of giving up, they learn from mistakes

12. Real example from MTC
Some students enter MTC from poor performing or under-funded
schools. Why are some successful and others aren’t?
Students A and B come to MTC from the same high school and take the same course. They both fail the first test because they are not well prepared
A says: I can’t make it here. The tests aren’t fair. No one will help me and the instructor is a jerk. There’s no point in coming to class.
B says: Wow, I blew that test. Guess I don’t know what they expect of me here. But if I want to succeed, I’d better find out fast. I really want to understand this material because it is important to my future. I’m going to meet with the instructor and show her/him my notes so they can help me improve. I’m going to set aside time every day to study instead of just cramming at the last minute.

13. Carol Dweck and Self-Theories MTC Example
RESULTS:
A is an Entity Theorist and drops out of MTC
B is an Incremental Theorist and graduates from MTC
Moral: Become an Incremental Theorist!

14. Cognition and Motivation
Achievement due to many things
Many factors including genes, environment, learning, and
Cognitive biases
Self-theories
How people interpret their abilities
Motivation

15. Knowing and Technology example

16. Introduction to Development
What is development?
Development-continuity and change in the body or behavior across time
Developmental psychology-the study of continuity and change in the body and/or behavior over time

17. Three basic issues Nature vs. Nurture (biology vs. environment)
In reality = Nature x Nurture interactions
Universal experiences vs. Individual differences
Continuity vs. Discontinuity (quantitative vs. qualitative)

18. Three basic issues: Where do you stand?
Nature vs. Nature (biology vs. environment)
In reality = Nature x Nurture interactions
Universal experiences vs. Individual differences
Continuity vs. Discontinuity
= quantitative vs. qualitative

19. Developmental questions
What causes some children to be bullies?
Why do some children learn to read with little effort, but others require extensive help?
How and when do children learn to distinguish fantasy from reality?
In what ways is brain development affected by experience?
Can infants add and subtract?
Others? Your questions.

20. Types of questions
Descriptive-describing what people know and can do at different ages
e.g., What do 3-year-olds know about math?
Explanatory-How do changes take place, what processes are involved in change
e.g., Why are some kids who grow up in impoverished environments resilient, but others suffer extreme negative consequences?