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Study Skills: Growth Mindset

Study Skills

Fixed vs Growth Mindset

Fixed Mindset vs Growth Mindset Image:
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Ref: Our Teen Brains. (2020). Fixed mindset vs growth mindset. https://ourteenbrains.org/teen-behavior/adolescent-brain-development-and-growth-mindset/

Developing a growth mindset

Definitions

What is a Fixed Mindset?

People with a fixed mindset tend to believe that what we’re born with is forever unchangeable. They believe they can't improve on any areas of their life - that they are born with a certain “amount” of talent, intelligence, skills. They believe this fine-tunes their character and personality until a certain age and once they grow up – that’s what they have.
 

Fixed Mindset Checklist:

  • When you’re not good at something, do you easily give up?
  • Do you believe that hard work can get you far in life?
  • Do you feel threatened by other people’s success?
  • Do you often perceive feedback as criticism?
  • Do you find it important to look smart?
  • Do you believe you can develop and change your traits, skills, and abilities?
  • Do you often blame others for your setbacks?
  • Do you fear change?

Ref. Intelligence Change. (n.d.). What is a fixed mindset: How having a fixed mindset could be holding you back? https://www.intelligentchange.com/blogs/read/fixed-mindset

Growth Mindset Definition

What is a Growth Mindset?

Individuals who believe their talents can be developed (through hard work, good strategies, and input from others) have a growth mindset. They tend to achieve more than those with a more fixed mindset (those who believe their talents are innate gifts). This is because they worry less about looking smart and they put more energy into learning.

Traits of a person with a growth mindset:

1. Believes intelligence and talents can be developed
2. Believes effort is the path to mastery
3. Believes mistakes are an essential part of learning
4. Views failures as an opportunity to learn
5. Believes failures are just temporary setbacks
6. Embraces challenges
7. Welcomes feedback & believes it is a guide to improvement
8. View's other's success as a source of inspiration and information

 

Ref. Dwecl, C. (2016). What having a “growth mindset” actually means. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2016/01/what-having-a-growth-mindset-actually-means#