Right Mindset

From an interview by Peter Aldhous with the psychologist Carol Dweck, in the 23 August issue of the New Scientist magazine:

You say that the key to success in life is to adopt a “growth” mindset as opposed to a “fixed” one. What do you mean by these terms?

People with a fixed mindset believe their basic qualities are carved in stone, so they are concerned about making their abilities look good. Those with a growth mindset believe their basic abilities can be cultivated through dedication and education. They are more concerned with stretching themselves. We’ve shown that a growth mindset orients you towards learning, whereas a fixed mindset makes you wary of challenges. If the learning involves risk of failure, those with a fixed mindset are more likely to pass it up.

Dr Dweck says that one doesn’t have to have a Growth Mindset in order to be successful, citing the example of John McEnroe:

John McEnroe was one of the most talented tennis players ever and, despite his fixed mindset, he achieved great success. But he did not like to practise, he did not tend to address his weaknesses, and he often engaged in self-defeating tactics when he was losing. I can only imagine what he might have achieved if he’d had a growth mindset!

She also argues that parents should teach their kids the Growth Mindset, and “praise effort, strategy and improvement. Do not praise intelligence and talent. This harms them.” She’s created an online programme for children to learn the Growth Mindset, too.

For us adults, we can learn the Growth Mindset if we want to. I assume her 2006 book Mindset: The new psychology of success tells us how.

I think my mindset could use work. (Is chronic procrastination a symptom of a Fixed Mindset?)