Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset

Over 30 years ago, the psychologist Carol Dweck became interested in students' attitudes about failure. She noticed that some students rebounded while other students seemed devastated by even the smallest setbacks. After studying the behaviour of thousands of children, Dr. Dweck coined the terms fixed mindset and growth mindset to describe the underlying beliefs people have about learning and intelligence.

Students with a fixed mindset see talent as a quality that is either possessed or not and cannot be changed. People with a growth mindset, however, believe that intelligence and skills can be developed through effort, teaching and persistence. Thus, the reaction to failure is very different for each of these groups. Those individuals with a fixed mindset consider that they have failed, that it is intrinsic to their person and that they cannot change and overcome it, so they stop trying; they are more concerned with their intelligence than with the possibility of learning. Whereas those individuals with a growth mindset see making mistakes or facing new challenges as opportunities to improve, learn and ultimately grow. These individuals tend to work hard and take risks, even if it involves making mistakes. In the face of difficulties, they are able to develop new strategies and try again. This is why students with a growth mindset tend to do better during their formative years.

The power of our beliefs, both conscious and unconscious, can have a profound impact on almost every aspect of our lives. The consequences of believing that intelligence and personality can be developed, rather than thinking of them as something immutable and ingrained in our being, opens the door to multiple possibilities.

Thus, of the many challenges educators face, one of the most formidable is student mindset. As educators, it is very important to foster a growth mindset. Praising students' intelligence alone can have a negative impact and encourage a fixed mindset. Conversely, if we focus on praising the effort and the process of learning rather than the outcome, students will cope better with challenges rather than giving up when things get difficult. Implementing a growth mindset can transform the ways students view themselves and their abilities for the rest of their lives.