stanford university’s carol dweck on the growth mindset and education

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1/10/2015 Stanford University’s Carol Dweck on the Growth Mindset and Education | OneDublin.org http://onedublin.org/2012/06/19/stanforduniversityscaroldweckonthegrowthmindsetandeducation/ 1/9 Stanford University’s Carol Dweck on the Growth Mindset and Education JUNE 19, 2012 by James Morehead “You’re so talented!”, “You are gifted – a natural!”, “You’re doing so well in school, you must be really smart!” – children receive these messages (or their negative counterparts), along with many other messages on a daily basis from their peers, parents and teachers. Are these just words or do they mean more? How are children affected by the words we use to praise, coach and criticize them? I recently met with Stanford University’s Carol S. Dweck (https://www.stanford.edu/dept/psychology/cgi‑bin/drupalm/cdweck) (Department of Psychology – Lewis and Virginia Eaton Professor) to learn more about her fascinating research into “self‑conceptions (or mindsets (http://mindsetonline.com/)) people use to structure the self and guide their behavior”. I reached out to Dr. Dweck after reading her book “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success (http://www.amazon.com/Mindset‑Psychology‑Success‑Carol‑ Dweck/dp/1400062756/sr=8‑1/qid=1158604938/ref=pd_bbs_1/102‑1809568‑4984946? ie=UTF8&s=books)” which challenged my belief system about intelligence. While I believed hard work can make the difference between two intelligent people, I also believed intelligence to be more of a fixed trait – something you are born with, rather than something you can develop. Dr. Dweck’s research, compelling and thorough, challenges this widely held belief, or ‘fixed mindset’, by demonstrating how powerful a ‘growth mindset’ can be in achieving success and happiness. OneDublin.org: What sparked your interest in the field of psychology?

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  • 1/10/2015 StanfordUniversitysCarolDweckontheGrowthMindsetandEducation|OneDublin.org

    http://onedublin.org/2012/06/19/stanforduniversityscaroldweckonthegrowthmindsetandeducation/ 1/9

    StanfordUniversitysCarolDweckontheGrowthMindsetandEducation

    JUNE19,2012byJamesMoreheadYouresotalented!,Youaregiftedanatural!,Youredoingsowellinschool,youmustbereallysmart!childrenreceivethesemessages(ortheirnegativecounterparts),alongwithmanyothermessagesonadailybasisfromtheirpeers,parentsandteachers.Arethesejustwordsordotheymeanmore?Howarechildrenaffectedbythewordsweusetopraise,coachandcriticizethem?

    IrecentlymetwithStanfordUniversitysCarolS.Dweck(https://www.stanford.edu/dept/psychology/cgibin/drupalm/cdweck)(DepartmentofPsychologyLewisandVirginiaEatonProfessor)tolearnmoreaboutherfascinatingresearchintoselfconceptions(ormindsets(http://mindsetonline.com/))peopleusetostructuretheselfandguidetheirbehavior.IreachedouttoDr.DweckafterreadingherbookMindset:TheNewPsychologyofSuccess(http://www.amazon.com/MindsetPsychologySuccessCarolDweck/dp/1400062756/sr=81/qid=1158604938/ref=pd_bbs_1/10218095684984946?ie=UTF8&s=books)whichchallengedmybeliefsystemaboutintelligence.WhileIbelievedhardworkcanmakethedifferencebetweentwointelligentpeople,Ialsobelievedintelligencetobemoreofafixedtraitsomethingyouarebornwith,ratherthansomethingyoucandevelop.

    Dr.Dwecksresearch,compellingandthorough,challengesthiswidelyheldbelief,orfixedmindset,bydemonstratinghowpowerfulagrowthmindsetcanbeinachievingsuccessandhappiness.

    OneDublin.org:Whatsparkedyourinterestinthefieldofpsychology?

  • 1/10/2015 StanfordUniversitysCarolDweckontheGrowthMindsetandEducation|OneDublin.org

    http://onedublin.org/2012/06/19/stanforduniversityscaroldweckonthegrowthmindsetandeducation/ 2/9

    (http://onedublin.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/lewisandvirginiaeatonprofessorofpsychologyatstanforduniversity.jpg)

    CarolDweck:Iwasalwaysinterestedinpeopleandwhytheydowhattheydo,andthatcrystallizedincollege.Psychologycombinedmanyofmyinterests:IlovedthescientificmethodputtingyourideastothetestandIlikedthehumansubjectmatterofpsychology.

    Werealwaysbeingtoldnowadaystofindyourpassion.Isaybuildyourpassionfindorcreateatopic,andawayofstudyingit,thatwillbecomeyourpassion.WhatIdoinpsychologydidntexistIhadtobuildit.

    OneDublin.org:Whatwasyourtriggertopursueresearchintomindsets?

    Dweck:Iwasfascinatedbyhowpeoplecopewithfailureorobstacles.Iwascuriousaboutwhysomestudentslovechallenge,andotherswhomaybeequallytalented,shyawayfromchallengesplayitsafe.Ijustwantedtofigurethatout.

    LateronIalsorealizedthatthisinterestwasfedbyapastexperienceofmine.My6thgradeteacherseatedusaroundtheroominI.Q.order(asItalkaboutinthebook(http://www.amazon.com/MindsetPsychologySuccessCarolDweck/dp/1400062756/sr=81/qid=1158604938/ref=pd_bbs_1/10218095684984946?ie=UTF8&s=books)),andalthoughIdidwellinthatmetricitcreatedthisfearoffallingfromgrace,ofmakingthemistakeofnotbeingasperfectasIneededtobe.Iwantedtounlockthatpsychologyandmaybebottleit,findouttheunderlyingreasonspeopleareafraidofchallengesorcrumblinginthefaceofsetbacks,andultimatelyhelpkids.

    OneDublin.org:Whenyoustartedyourresearchdidyouhavemuchtodrawfrom?

  • 1/10/2015 StanfordUniversitysCarolDweckontheGrowthMindsetandEducation|OneDublin.org

    http://onedublin.org/2012/06/19/stanforduniversityscaroldweckonthegrowthmindsetandeducation/ 3/9

    (http://onedublin.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/stanforduniversitypsychologydepartment.jpg)

    Dweck:Therewereinklingsofresearch.Therewasworkonlearnedhelplessnessinanimals,whereanimalswouldstoptryingtodothingsthatwerewithintheirpowertodo,becauseoftheirpastexperiences.Therestartedtobeworkinattributiontheory,showinghowpeoplesinterpretationsoftheirsuccessesandfailurescouldreallyinfluencetheirmotivation.InmyworkIstartedtoputthosethingstogetherIstartedtoaskifchildrensinterpretationoftheirmistakesorsetbackscouldcreatetheirresponses.

    OneDublin.org:Whatisyourdefinitionoffixedandgrowthmindsets?

    Dweck:Inafixedmindsetstudentsbelievetheirbasicabilities,theirintelligence,theirtalents,arejustfixedtraits.Theyhaveacertainamountandthatsthat,andthentheirgoalbecomestolooksmartallthetimeandneverlookdumb.

    Inagrowthmindsetstudentsunderstandthattheirtalentsandabilitiescanbedevelopedthrougheffort,goodteachingandpersistence.TheydontnecessarilythinkeveryonesthesameoranyonecanbeEinstein,buttheybelieveeveryonecangetsmarteriftheyworkatit.

    OneDublin.org:Isthereawidelyheldbeliefinthefixedmindsetandwhatisthesourceofmindsets?

    Dweck:Bothmindsetsarewidelyheld.Generallywefindabout40%ofpeople,studentsandadults,

  • 1/10/2015 StanfordUniversitysCarolDweckontheGrowthMindsetandEducation|OneDublin.org

    http://onedublin.org/2012/06/19/stanforduniversityscaroldweckonthegrowthmindsetandeducation/ 4/9

    Dweck:Bothmindsetsarewidelyheld.Generallywefindabout40%ofpeople,studentsandadults,endorsethegrowthmindset,40%thefixedandtheremainderareinthemiddletheycantmakeuptheirminds.

    Ithinkbothmindsetsarerampantinourculture.Wevealwayshadthemessagethatpracticemakesperfect,anyonecandoanythingiftheyputtheirmindstoit,butwealsohavethisworshipofgeniusandtalent.Whenwelookattremendousperformers,likeMichaelJordan,whenwelookatsuperstars,whenwelookatgeniuses,weassumetheywerebornthatwaybecausewedontseewhatwentintotheiraccomplishments.

    IteachafreshmanseminarhereatStanfordeveryyearonmindsets.ForoneassignmentIhavethestudentsdoresearchontheirheroandfindoutwhethertheherowassofamousorsuccessfulbecausetheywerenaturallytalentedorwhethertheyinfacttheyhadtoovercomealotofadversityandworkreallyhard.Notoncehasiteverbeenthecasethattheirherocoasted.

    OneDublin.org:WithallthatsbeenwrittenaboutthesuccessofApple,andtheroleSteveJobsplayedinthatsuccess,howwouldyouclassifySteveJobs?

    Dweck:IvethoughtaboutitalotwhenIreadSteveJobsbiographyandIthinkJobshadarealgrowthmindsetabouthimself.Hewasconstantlyexperimenting,usingthefeedbackandcreatingnewthingsfromit.ButIdontthinkhenecessarilyhadagrowthmindsetaboutotherpeople.Hewantedthemtobeperfectandtheylivedinfearofcomingtohimandgettinghisdisapproval,insteadofhisapproval.Youcanhaveadifferentmindsetaboutyourselfandotherpeople.

    OneDublin.org:WhatarethedownsidesforparentsusingphraseslikethiswiththeirchildrenYouaresosmart!andYouaresotalented!

    Dweck:Ithinktheselfesteemmovementreallytrainedoursocietysintuitionsabouthowtocreatehappyandsuccessfulkids.Theideawasyoucouldhandkidsselfesteemonasilverplatterbypraisingthem,bytellingthemhowsmartandspecialtheyare,andthiswouldsetthemforlifeandeverythingelsegoodwouldfollow.ButIhadalreadybeendoingresearchonvulnerableandresilientkidsfordecadesandIknewitwasthevulnerableonesthatwerefocusedonbeingsmartandIworriedthatpraisingintelligenceandpracticeslikethatputaspotlightonintelligenceandalsotoldkidsthatswhatwevalueyoufor,thatswhyweadmireyou.

    Wevedonealongseriesofstudiesnowwithallagesofkidsandweveseenthatpraisingintelligencebackfires.Itputstheminafixedmindsetandnotwantchallenges.Theydontwanttorisklookingstupidorriskmakingmistakes.Kidspraisedforintelligencecurtailtheirlearninginordertonevermakeamistake,inordertopreservethelabelyougavetothem.

    Studentspraisedfortheprocesstheyengagedintheireffort,theirstrategies,theirfocus,theirperseverancethesekidstakeonhardtasksandstickwiththem,eveniftheymakelotsofmistakes.Theylearnmoreinthelongrun.

    OneDublin.org:Discussoneofthemanystudiesyouveperformedonmindsetsinmoredetail.

    Dweck:Webroughtstudents,5thgraders,oneatatimeintoaroomfromtheirschoolandwegave

  • 1/10/2015 StanfordUniversitysCarolDweckontheGrowthMindsetandEducation|OneDublin.org

    http://onedublin.org/2012/06/19/stanforduniversityscaroldweckonthegrowthmindsetandeducation/ 5/9

    Dweck:Webroughtstudents,5thgraders,oneatatimeintoaroomfromtheirschoolandwegavethemtenproblemsfromanonverbalI.Q.test.Aftertheycompletedthetenproblemswegaveeachchildonekindofpraise.Somekidswerepraisedfortheirintelligence:Thatsareallygoodscore,youmustbesmart.,somewerepraisedfortheprocessinthiscaseeffort:Boy,thatsareallygoodscore,youmusthaveworkedhard.,andsomekidswerejusttold:Thatsareallygoodscore.forpurposesofcomparison.

    Wethenaskedstudents,So,whatdoyouwanttoworkonnow?andwedescribedeithertasksintheircomfortzone(wheretheywouldntmakemistakes)orchallengingtasks(wheretheywouldmakemistakesbutlearnsomethingimportant).

    Themajorityofkidswhowerepraisedfortheirintelligencewantedtheeasytaskintheircomfortzonewhereastheoverwhelmingmajorityofkidspraisedfortheprocesswantedthehardtasktheycouldlearnfrom.

    Laterwegaveeveryonereallyhardproblemsandwesawthatthekidspraisedforintelligencelosttheirconfidencebecauseifsuccessmeanttheyweresmart,strugglemeanttheywerent,andtheylosttheirenjoymentofthetask.Evenwhenwewentbacktotheeasiertasktheirperformancesuffered,andlaterontheyliedabouttheirscore.

    Thekidswhohadbeenpraisedfortheprocessstayedconfident,sawtheproblemswereharderandworkedatit,andremainedengaged.WhenwewentbacktotheeasierproblemstheirscoreontheI.Q.testwashigherthanithadbeenbefore.Theydidntliewhenaskedabouthowtheyddoneonthehardproblemstheytoldthetruth,therewasnothingunderminingorhumiliatingaboutstrugglingwithsomethingnewordifficult.

    Wedidthestudysixtimesbecausetheresultsweresopowerful:wewantedtomakesuretheresultswerereal.

    OneDublin.org:Haveyoudoneanystudiesontheproclivitytocheatasitrelatedtothemindsets?

    Dweck:Yeswehave.Weveshownwithalargesampleofmiddleschoolstudentsthatafterapoorscoreonatestthestudentswithafixedmindsetsayyes,theywouldseriouslyconsidercheating.ATVshowinKorearecreatedourpraisestudiesandtheyshowedthatchildrenandadultswhoweretoldtheywerebrilliantforataskcheatedsubstantiallymorethanthosepraisedfortheirprocess,fortheireffort.

    OneDublin.org:Havetherebeenlongitudinalstudiesthathavetrackedperformanceovertimebymindset?

    Dweck:Wevetrackedstudentsovertwoyears,studentsmakingatransitiontojuniorhigh(7thgrade),andwesawtheirmathgradespullapart.Theonlydifferencebetweenthetwogroupswastheirmindset.

    OneDublin.org:Whatstepsdoyourecommendparentsandteacherstakeinresponsetoyourresearchonmindsets?

    Dweck:Ithinkthewaywepraise,thewaywetalktokids,allofthesemessagesareconveyingavalue

  • 1/10/2015 StanfordUniversitysCarolDweckontheGrowthMindsetandEducation|OneDublin.org

    http://onedublin.org/2012/06/19/stanforduniversityscaroldweckonthegrowthmindsetandeducation/ 6/9

    Dweck:Ithinkthewaywepraise,thewaywetalktokids,allofthesemessagesareconveyingavaluesystem.SowhenwesaytosomeoneOh,youresosmart,itsaysthatswhatwevalue.WhenwesaytoakidOh,youdidthatsoquickly,yourereallygoodatit,weretellingthemdoingsomethingquicklyandeasilymeansyouregoodatit,andifyouhavetoworkhardyouarentgoodatit.OrifwesayWow,Imreallyimpressed,andtheyhaventreallyworkedhard,thenweresayingthatswhatimpressesmethatifyoumakeamistake,ifyoustruggle,itdoesntimpressme.

    Wehavetoreallysendtherightmessages,thattakingonachallengingtaskiswhatIadmire.Stickingtosomethingandtryingmanystrategies,thatswhatIadmire.Thatstrugglingmeansyourecommittedtosomethingandarewillingtoworkhard.Parentsaroundthedinnertableandteachersintheclassroomshouldask,Whohadafabulousstruggletoday?

    OneDublin.org:YouveseenalotofstudentsinyourtimeatColumbiaandnowatStanfordwhatadvicedoyouhavefortheClassof2012astheyleavehighschoolandtransitiontocollege?

    Dweck:Twothings.Oneistorememberthatthebraingrowsnewconnectionswhenyoulearnandthatyouaregoingtohavetogrowalotofnewconnectionsincollege.Collegeisnotlikehighschoolanditreallyrequiresthatyouhunkerdown,diginandgetallthehelpthatyouneedtofigureoutthisnewgame.Andtheotherthing,whichisrelated,isfigureouthowtousealloftheresourcesintheenvironmenttohelpyouchoosetherightcourses,tohelpyounavigatethesystem,tomakeitasgoodanexperienceforyourselfasyoucan.

    Alotofpeoplecomefromhighschoolswheretheyvebeenspoonfedortheyvegottenalotofattention,wheretheyknowtheropes,andtheyfeelkindoflostincollege.Itsnotjustaboutfeelingthatyouhavethebrainpowertotackletheacademicmaterial,itreallyisaboutfindingyourwayaround,andmakingtheenvironmentworkforyou.

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    LifeatStanfordUniversity:RavaliReddyonChoosingCardinalforCollegeColors(http://onedublin.org/2010/11/25/lifeatstanforduniversityravalireddyonchoosingcardinalforcollegecolors/)Whydobeliefsaboutintelligenceinfluencelearningsuccess?(https://www.stanford.edu/dept/psychology/cgibin/drupalm/system/files/cdwecklearning%20success.pdf)

  • 1/10/2015 StanfordUniversitysCarolDweckontheGrowthMindsetandEducation|OneDublin.org

    http://onedublin.org/2012/06/19/stanforduniversityscaroldweckonthegrowthmindsetandeducation/ 7/9

    (http://onedublin.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/stanforduniversityjordanhall.jpg)StanfordUniversityJordanHall

    fromEducationInnovation25Comments leaveone1. Phyllis PERMALINK

    June19,20127:49amThankyouOneDublin.orgforpublishingthegreatinterviewwithDr.Dweck!IhadthehonorandprivilegeofstudyingunderDr.DweckwhenIwasapsychologymajorattheUniversityofIllinois.Ilearnedsomuchfromher,butthemostimportantthingIlearnedwashertheoriesonmindsetandthatreallydidhelpmeraisemydaughtersoverthepast22years,oneof

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  • 1/10/2015 StanfordUniversitysCarolDweckontheGrowthMindsetandEducation|OneDublin.org

    http://onedublin.org/2012/06/19/stanforduniversityscaroldweckonthegrowthmindsetandeducation/ 8/9

    whichjustgraduatedsummacumlaudefromUCLAthispastweekendnotbecauseshewasbrilliant(althoughIdosometimeskeepthatthoughtinthebackofmymind),butbecausesheworkedhertushyoffthesepastfouryears!ThankyouDr.DweckforhelpingmeraisetwowonderfulhardworkinggirlsandthankyouOneDublin.orgforgivingyourreadersthechancetolearnfromDr.DweckwhatIlearned33yearsago!

    REPLY2. Escher PERMALINK

    July6,20122:08amVeryinterestingandenlighteningarticle.IwonderifD.Dweckhasfolloweduptoseeifthemindsetissomethingfixedorchangeable?(ie.ifonemindsettakesholdat5thgrade,canitthenbechangedby,say7thgrade?)Ihavethisnaggingfearthatthemindsetisunchangeablebeyondcertainage,andalsosomepeoplearemorechallengedatattaininggrowthmindset(thinkabouttryingtogetADDorADHDchildrentoSTAYfocusedonthetaskathand).

    REPLY3. MaraTeresaGarza PERMALINK

    September15,20126:13pmIamreallydelightedbyDr.Dweckideas.Ithinktheyarebasictohelpchildrenachieveinschoolandlivehappierlives.Iwonderiftherehasbeenanystudiestryingtocorrelatetheconceptsofmindsettypeandselfregulationprocesses?

    REPLY4. jadewesterman PERMALINK

    August25,201411:26amRebloggedthisonLearningHowtoLearnandcommented:JamesMoreheadsinterviewwithCarolDweck,givenasaworthwhileadditionalpopulararticleforWeek1ReadingoftheLearningHowtoLearnMOOCcourseonCoursera.Referencedwithinmypost,CoachingaGrowthMindset

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