Growth mindset

The human brain is the most complex physical entity in the universe.

According to Western Governors University: "A growth mindset means that you thrive on challenge, and don’t see failure as a way to describe yourself but as a springboard for growth and developing your abilities. Your intelligence and talents are all susceptible to growth. Dr. Carol Dweck of Stanford University first talked about the power of mindset nearly 30 years ago. Carol Dweck and her team became interested in the attitude of students when it comes to failure. After studying the behavior of students and children, the term “growth mindset” came about. Simply put, this mindset means that you believe in your ability to become better through hard work, and help from others."

Growth mindset vs. a fixed mindset

According to Central Western University: " A growth mindset is how much you believe your basic qualities, like intelligence and talent, can be changed or developed. A fixed mindset is how much you believe your basic qualities are fixed or permanent."

Harvard Business School contrast a growth mindset vs. a fixed mindset thusly:

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[According to Dweck], challenging situations can be catastrophic for those with fixed mindsets because of the implication that if they don’t already have the skills or intelligence to complete a task, there’s no chance of improvement. When you have a growth mindset, you believe you can gain the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed, which makes every challenge a learning opportunity. Given the numerous challenges entrepreneurs face, a growth mindset can be a powerful tool as you work toward your venture’s success.

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The Harvard Business School points out that a growth mindset helps entrepreneurs enter new fields easier and it develops resilience because "When challenges, setbacks, and failures inevitably arise, your business’s survival depends on your ability to persevere and learn from difficult situations."

Behaviors, beliefs, thoughts and accrued benefits of those with a growth mindset

Those who adopt a growth mindset are more likely to:

- Practice lifelong learning and are therefore more likely to have higher confidence, higher self-esteem, a higher sense of accomplishment and improved memory and cognitive function.

Thomas Edison and his phonograph

- Believe intelligence is not static and is subject to improvement

- Have more grit and therefore expend more effort in order to learn

- Put in the effort that leads to mastery of a topic or skill

- Embrace a trial and error method of learning and therefore view errors a merely temporary setbacks

- See errors as useful feedback that is a source of information (Thomas Edison learned many ways how not to create a lightbulb on his way to creating a lightbulb)

- Eagerly embraces challenges

- Have higher self-esteem and confidence and lower rates of depression

- Have higher self-awareness which comes from going beyond one's comfort zone and changing one's life situation. See: Change management

- Sees others' success and accomplishments as a source of inspiration rather than something to be envious about

- Views feedback from others as an opportunity to learn rather than something to be angry about or as something catastrophic

- Have a more positive/constructive attitude

- Better able to attract people who are achievers or that have different viewpoints that can challenge them. See: Social influence

- Have more mental toughness and psychological resilience

- In fields or businesses that are new areas or where formal education is not available, individuals have more acumen.

- Managers or business owners who have a growth mindset are able to add this to the organizational culture

Behaviors, beliefs, thoughts and accrued costs of those with a fixed mindset

Individuals with a fixed mindset rather than a growth mindset are more likely to be envious of the success and accomplishments of others.

Those with a fixed mindset:

- Believes intelligence and talent are unchangeable.

- Less likely to engage in lifelong learning

- Avoid challenges in order to try to avoid failure. But success often comes to those who are like hockey players who have many shots on goal.

- Disregards useful feedback from others

- Has a greater propensity to be envious and resentful by the success of others

- Hides flaws rather than consulting with others so as not to be judged by others

- Believes putting in effort is pointless so therefore worthless

- Views feedback as personal criticism

- Lacks persistence and gives up far too easily. In dire or adverse situations, this can be dangerous.

- Less likely to take profitable and important calculated risk and have less of a sense of adventure. See: Risk and Risk management

- Have lower confidence and lower self-esteem.

- Lower self-awareness

- Are more likely to have a negative attitude

Graphical comparisons of a growth mindset vs. a fixed mindset

A fixed mindset vs. a growth mindset compared

Fixed mindset vs. a growth mindset compared (The Richard J. Murphy K-8 School in Boston)

Children adopting maladaptive perfectionism: Fixed mindset vs. a growth mindset

See also: Perfectionism

Common refrain relating to perfectionism

Individuals with maladaptive perfectionism often lack a growth mindset. People with a growth mindset see unsuccessful attempts/effort as part of learning process and not unforgiveable errors.

Kenneth R. Ginsburg, MD, MS, Ed, FAAP wrote:

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Grow a growth mindset. Research shows how praise and criticism can lead to a "fixed mindset," rather than a healthier "growth mindset." For example: Children praised for being smart are more likely to grow to fear being seen as anything else, while those noticed for effort develop a passion for growth. Young people with a growth mindset believe their intelligence can be developed with effort. When they don't do something as well as they hoped, they don't see themselves as failures, but as learners. In contrast, people with a fixed mindset (including perfectionists) may believe people are either smart or not, and that failure proves you're not. They may even believe that having to work hard at something suggests a lack of natural intelligence. People with a growth mindset feel successful when they can do something they couldn't do before, whereas those with fixed mindsets feel smart when they avoid errors. To help your child build a growth mindset, praise the effort, rather than the product. For example, instead of saying, "I just expect you to do your best," say something like: "All I expect is for you to put in a good effort. I care less about your grades and more about the fact that you are learning," or "Some things come easily to me, and with even a little effort, I will always do well. In other subjects, I might work really hard and still not do as well as I wish I could. But all I want from you is to stretch yourself and learn."

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Books

• Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck. Random House (February 28, 2006).

See also

• Neuroplasticity
• Neoroplasticity and the ability of individuals to improve their personality
• Grit (personality trait)
• Attitude

External links

• Dr. Dweck’s research into growth mindset changed education forever
• Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset
• What Having a "Growth Mindset" Actually Means, Harvard Business Review
• Developing a Growth Mindset with Carol Dweck
• Angela Duckworth - A growth mindset is the right mindset - Insights for Entrepreneurs
• Q&A: Angela Duckworth on How to Practice Growth Mindset | 2022 Wharton Future of Work Conference
• Developing Grit and a Growth Mindset w/ Angela Duckworth