Developing Growth Mindset
When psychologist Carol Dweck started her research career, she saw some kids were able to bounce back and keep trying after failure and setbacks while others were shattered. She discovered via her research that the resilient kids (and adults) all held the same belief that they could develop their knowledge, abilities, and skills throughout the course of their lives. This type of thinking, which Dweck refers to as a “growth mentality,” argues that improvement is always possible and that failure never has a lasting effect.
Dweck has studied the development mentality and its antithesis, the fixed mindset, for more than 30 years. In her book Mindset, The New Psychology of Success, she describes the results of her study. Since the public’s interest in her study on mindsets has grown, a large number of psychologists have agreed with her thesis, and several institutions of higher learning as well as businesses have incorporated her concepts into their curricula and training initiatives. Let’s take a closer look at Dweck’s idea of mindsets.
Growth vs. Fixed Mindset
Imagine Susan and Beth, two students, waiting for their teacher to return their midterm exam. There is still a full semester left, however it is a significant portion of their grade. To be accepted into the program they wish to enroll in the following year, they both need to earn high grades in this course. They receive their test results and review them. Each received a C.
I’m so stupid, Susan thinks as she examines the test with her heart in her throat. This course is dreadful for me. I’ll never be successful. I suppose studying for the remainder of the term is useless.
Beth is likewise unhappy and disturbed. Wow, she thinks as she examines her test. I must definitely pull up my socks. I’ll need to do additional studying for the upcoming exam. And that one notion, I truly didn’t comprehend it. I’ll need to speak with the professor and request further assistance.
Which of these students has the best chance of doing well in the class and continuing on to the degree they are pursuing?
Based solely on the situation at hand, Beth is the obvious answer. But what about the way she reacts to a poor grade says that she has a better chance of succeeding?
This example shows how the two pupils think. Beth is showing a progressive attitude, whereas Susan is showing a stuck mindset. Let’s examine these words’ definitions.
Fixed Mindset
People who have a fixed mentality think that a person’s essential talents, abilities, IQ, and character are determined at birth and that no amount of work or effort can change these characteristics.
An individual with a fixed mentality has a propensity for seeing the world in black-and-white terms. Winners and losers, intelligent individuals and uneducated people exist. In the aforementioned scenario, Susan makes the assumption that her performance on the midterm examination was inadequate. Since there is nothing she can do, she should just give up.
Those who have a fixed attitude, frequently:
- Consider that making an attempt is a symptom of ignorance (because intelligent/talented individuals shouldn’t need to strive)
- Feel that their achievements or failures define them
- Are hesitant to pursue difficult tasks (for fear that they won’t succeed and will thereby demonstrate that they lack intelligence, talent, or talent)
- Ignore criticism since people can’t alter it anyhow.
- Consider criticism from feedback to be personal
- Apprehension about others’ success
- A person with a fixed attitude is eager to show off their positive traits. A youngster with a fixed attitude tries to prove their superior intelligence, talent, and skill. After all, people want to be on the winning team if these traits are rectified.
Ironically, this urge to display their abilities might cause them to turn down chances to get better. For instance, Dweck’s study has revealed that when given the option between repeating an easy problem they have already mastered and taking on a new challenge that they could learn from, youngsters with a fixed mentality typically chose the easier task. Why would anyone want to repeat a simple task? They could discover that they aren’t very smart if they attempt the new task and fail.
Resilient people hold the same belief that they could develop their knowledge, abilities, and skills throughout the course of their lives.
Growth Mindset
People with a growth mindset, as opposed to those with a fixed mentality, think that one’s abilities, talents, intelligence, skills, and even character characteristics and social skills may develop with time. Challenges are welcomed in this worldview, and failures are seen as chances for development and learning.
People who have a growth mentality do not view the world as being split into winners and losers or success and failure; rather, they view setbacks as indicators that further work or possibly a new approach is required to attain their objectives. A person with a development mentality might still experience pain from setbacks, but they don’t view them as failures; rather, they see them as opportunities to strive harder.
Everyone has a unique combination of abilities and talents, and those with a development mentality are aware that not everyone can achieve Mozart or Einstein status. However, they do think that abilities can develop in any field with time and effort.
A development mentality is characterized by:
- Accept challenges
- Enjoing education
- Investigate possible solutions to an issue
- Ask for assistance when you need it
- Attend to criticism
- Esteem the necessity of effort for mastery
- Recognize that learning involves making errors
- Consider errors and failures as teaching opportunities
- Observe success in others as motivational
Because they value lifelong learning, persons with growth mindsets frequently outperform those heralded as “born talents” but don’t put in the effort to attain their objectives over time.
What You Can Achieve if You Have the Right Mentality
What goals can you achieve by developing a development mindset? The quick response is, “Anything you want.” If you have a growth mindset, you can study, develop, and increase your talents in any area of learning or skill that interests you.
You may enhance your creativity in music, art, writing, or cinema, as well as your intellectual abilities in logic, algebra, rhetoric, and astrophysics. You can even increase your athletic prowess on the court, the trail, or the yoga mat.
Knowing about brain plasticity is crucial in figuring out why this is the case.
Cognitive Plasticity
Around 100 billion neurons, a unique type of nerve cell, are present in the human brain. There are approximately 100 trillion connections between these neurons, which are made at places of connection called synapses.
Everything about our bodies and brains, including digestion and respiration as well as mental processes like memory, knowledge, ideas, and emotions, are controlled by this enormous network of neurons. Importantly, this neural network enables us to take in information, analyze it, retain it, and create new connections between previously unknown and familiar concepts (I’ve never seen that animal before, but it has enormous teeth!). For example, we know that animals with large teeth can bite. Run!).
The neurons in our brains were thought to grow quickly throughout youth but cease growing as we mature until a few decades ago. It was believed that individuals could only learn and alter so much in their latter years due to the absence of fresh brain development. The scientific view of our brain was essentially that “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”
Recent advances in neuroscience have, however, fundamentally altered this perspective. Scientists have shown that neurons may develop and alter throughout the course of our lives thanks to new techniques that allow us to peer inside the brain. People may retrain abilities like walking, speaking, and delicate hand motions after a stroke, for instance, even if the original region of the brain that controls such functions is still injured. Neural plasticity is the term used to describe our brains’ capacity to develop and change.
Great Example
Actor Christopher Reeve, best known for playing Superman, is a poignant illustration of cerebral plasticity. After becoming a quadriplegic as a result of a horseback riding accident, Reeve proved to be a real-life Superman. Prior to Reeve, conventional medical thinking held that individuals with spinal cord injuries may continue to recover and regain some function for months following their injury, but by two years later, no further progress would be possible. But Reeve was adamant on defying the odds.
Physical rehabilitation was started by Reeve soon after his injury. He was able to move his index finger again about five years after his accident. Motivated, he started a more rigorous workout regimen. He was able to significantly improve his health and restore some mobility and feeling, even though he would never be able to walk or regain control over other areas of his body.
Most importantly, his example led to new research directions. Since then, researchers have expanded on these initial discoveries and have made significant advancements in helping those who have suffered spinal cord injuries regain function, feeling, and mobility.
Even though Christopher Reeve may be an extreme example, his life story serves as a powerful reminder that we may learn and develop at any age. In other words, adopting a growth mindset isn’t simply a good notion; it really reflects the way our brains actually function. Whatever you want to get better at, it is possible to develop and learn with deliberate effort.
Ideas for Fostering Growth Mindset
People who are living examples of a development mentality are all around us. Here are a few examples:
Athletics
While many athletes are praised for being naturals with an almost miraculous talent for their sport, this notion obscures the rigorous work and perseverance needed to be successful. The majority of the sporting figures we are familiar with, like Mohammad Ali and Tiger Woods, were not considered naturals when they first began their careers. They were only able to appear to have been naturals from the start when they were working really hard till the very end.
Take the case of running world record holder Fauja Singh, who didn’t start running until he was 89 years old.
The oldest marathon runner in the world, Fauja Singh, was a weak child growing up in India. Even though he was frequently made fun of by his friends, he nevertheless became interested in running as a young man. But he quickly stopped jogging, and he didn’t start competing in sports again until 1995, when he was 80 years old.
He wanted to take care of his health because he had experienced family deaths. At the age of 89, he participated in his first marathon. He broke the age-group world marathon record in 2003 when he was 93 years old by 53 minutes. Singh was the first person above the age of 100 to complete a marathon in 2011 and held other age category awards over a variety of lengths.
If there is a sport or activity you’d like to attempt, remember that even though you might not end up like Serena Williams or Michael Jordan, you can still learn and get better at any age.
Art
Even for those who think intelligence can be enhanced and improved, artistic talent and creativity may seem insurmountable to develop if they are not innate. However, just like any other talent, creativity and creative ability can be learnt and developed. In actuality, many well-known artists toiled for years before perfecting their skill and winning acclaim.
For instance, the Impressionist painter Claude Monet didn’t start painting professionally until he was in his forties and as he got older, he created his most famous pieces in the middle of his beloved gardens. Paul Cezanne, a fellow Impressionist like Monet, started off slowly as well. He was continually turned down for admission to art school and didn’t achieve success until he was forty. American artist Anna Moses, sometimes referred to as Grandma Moses, got off to an even later start. She didn’t truly start painting until she was 78.
Literature
Another profession where success could appear to be the result of inherent gift is writing, but in reality, success is frequently the result of perseverance and hard effort. For instance, Little House in the Prairies author Laura Ingles Wilder didn’t start writing until she was in her forties, when she began a freelance journalistic job. Twenty more years passed before she finally released her debut novel.
Novelist Donald Ray Pollock began writing in his 50s, received his MFA at age 55, and released his first book three years later. Poet Charles Bukowski published his first book at age 51, Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison didn’t release her first book until age 39, and Charles Bukowski published his first book at age 51.
Read Dweck’s book Mindset, The New Psychology of Success for additional examples of how a growth mindset fosters success while a fixed mindset inhibits it. Mindset is full of examples of how a growth mindset fosters success while a fixed mindset inhibits it in sports, music, business, and relationships.
Mindset is full of examples of how a growth mindset fosters success while a fixed mindset inhibits it in sports, music, business, and relationships.
Build a Growth Mindset
Carol Dweck has uncovered several strategies to assist anyone in shifting their mentality as a result of her study. Here are few strategies for utilizing a development mindset that have been scientifically demonstrated to be effective.
Discover How the Brain Develops
It might sound overly straightforward, but according to Dweck’s study, people can adopt a growth mindset by simply realizing that they can improve in any field.
Great books that can provide more information in this area include Dweck’s own book Mindset, The New Psychology of Success, which was already mentioned, as well as Angela Duckworth’s Grit, The Power of Passion and Perseverance, which explores how passion and perseverance can help people realize their dreams. A lot of books, periodicals, and websites also cover the most recent advancements in neuroscience and how to use them in your own life. You may accomplish more with your brain as you have greater understanding of it.
Make a Growth Plan
Your aspirations may be realized with the aid of a detailed plan of action. Dweck recommends asking oneself, “When, where, and how will I launch on my plan?” for everything you want to do. Your likelihood of acting on your response increases with the level of specificity you provide.
Think, for instance, “I’ll add a piece of fruit to my breakfast and have a simple black coffee instead of a mocha latte during my coffee break,” as opposed to “I’ll start eating healthier tomorrow.”
Think, “The teacher always asks if we have questions at the start of class,” rather than, “I’ll start asking for help in class. I’m going to raise my hand the next day and inquire about the issue I’m having.
Be Receptive to Feedback
People have a propensity to shut themselves up to criticism when they are in the grip of a fixed attitude. After all, what good is listening to criticism if you can’t change? However, comments may be a really helpful tool for figuring out where and how to improve. Request helpful criticism from your mentor, supervisor, or instructor, and take some time to come up with a clear strategy for enhancing your work.
Review Your Development for Growth Mindset
Spend a few minutes every day thinking back on the riddles and difficulties you’ve overcome. How were they resolved? What tactics did you employ? Think on your past errors at the same time. What did you discover? What will you change about the situation?
A growth mindset is strengthened by frequently reminding oneself that you can learn and advance from trying circumstances. If you have children, having this discussion at the dinner table is a terrific way to teach your children the growth mindset principle of trying, failing, learning, and trying again.
Regaining Control When Mistakes Are Made
Turning on a development mindset is not as simple as pressing a button. In reality, saying “I’ll just decide to have a growth mindset, and then I’ll have one!” is a highly fixed mentality approach to the problem. Developing a development mentality is more like taking care of a new kitten, though. A growing attitude needs nourishment and attention. Try these suggestions if you notice yourself reverting to stuck thinking behaviors:
Try again! A growth mentality reminds us that there is always room for improvement. Simply cling onto this notion as an ideal if you find it difficult to internalize it. You develop a development mentality more and more the more you work to achieve it.
Accept Challenges
Don’t be afraid of challenging issues. The most effective method to develop a development mindset is to take on something difficult and succeed at it.
Try out various learning methods. Everybody learns differently. Try multiple approaches if you’re having trouble understanding a subject. The majority of colleges and universities provide study skills courses that may show you several approaches to studying. Till you discover what works for you, keep experimenting.
Take the word “failure” out of your lexicon. Not finishing a task flawlessly might feel like failure when you have a fixed perspective. It isn’t. It only demonstrates that you still have a lot to learn. You haven’t failed; you just haven’t mastered the work yet if you don’t do as well as you would want. You’ll succeed if you persevere and learn new things.
Keep your expectations in check. Learning a new skill or subject requires time and effort. Make sure you have reasonable expectations for how quickly you can progress if you are becoming irritated because you can’t (yet!) accomplish something.
Love the process rather than the result. People who have a growth mindset have a passion for learning that pushes them to take on more difficult tasks. They frequently had successes along the road, but the challenge itself was the key. Accept this line of thought. As you go through life, cultivate an appreciation for the learning process and continue to push yourself.
Conclusion
It is possible to learn, develop, and evolve throughout your lifetime, according to research. Whatever you consider your current qualities, prowess, and skills to be, there is always room for improvement. Contrarily, thinking that your abilities are set in stone tends to restrict your potential.
Work on cultivating a growth mentality if you want to fully realize your potential. You can do everything you set your mind to if you learn to love studying and believe in your ability to progress.
