Growth Mindset

The concept of a ‘growth mindset’ was developed by psychologist Carol Dweck. A ‘mindset’ is a perception people hold about themselves and their abilities. The belief that you are ‘smart’ or ‘dumb’ is simple example of a mindset.

According to Dweck, “In a fixed mindset, people believe their basic qualities, like their intelligence or talent, are simply fixed traits. They spend their time documenting their intelligence or talent instead of developing them. They also believe that talent alone creates success – without effort.”

Alternatively, “In a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work – brains and talent are just the starting point. This creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment,” writes Dweck.

Hear more from Dweck in this video:

This website includes some great resources, videos and articles about the growth mindset if you’d like to learn more.