A growth mindset about our talents and abilities: psychologist Carol Dweck

Carol S. Dweck, PhD, a professor of psychology at Stanford, notes society tends to believe that geniuses are born, not made, but she thinks it is clear "from the histories of so many geniuses that motivation is a key component, perhaps the number one component in the realization of genius."

Other experts such as Peter Doskoch of Psychology Today and Geoffrey Colvin ("Talent Is Overrated") say what really counts in helping us realize our talents and abilities is a combination of passion and perseverance, determination and grit.

From my article It takes more than talent to find your true potential
http://talentdevelop.com/328/it-takes-more-than-talent/

Her book: Mindset: The New Psychology of Success.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0345472322/talentdevelopmen

Review: A good book is one whose advice you believe. This is a book that can change your life, as its ideas have changed mine. Robert J. Sternberg, IBM Professor of Education and Psychology at Yale University, director of the PACE Center of Yale University, and author of Successful Intelligence.

Source for video clip: Psychology professor discusses 'growth' versus 'fixed' minds
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-wD3M59Uiw

In a conversation with Stanford Report writer Lisa Trei, psychologist Carol Dweck says people's self-theories about intelligence have a profound influence on their motivation to learn. Those who hold a "fixed" theory are mainly concerned with how smart they are—they prefer tasks they can already do well and avoid ones on which they may make mistakes and not look smart. In contrast, she says, people who believe in a "growth" theory of intelligence want to challenge themselves to increase their abilities, even if they fail at first.

Carol Dweck quote "People are, to a large extent, in charge of their own intelligence" from video: 9 Growth Mindset Quotations
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPz_h-hAYWY

Related article (with videos): Interviews with Carol Dweck.
http://talentdevelop.com/articles/IWCD.html

Another article: Students Who Believe Intelligence Can Be Developed Perform Better
ScienceDaily news story on research of Carol Dweck, PhD and others.
http://talentdevelop.com/articles/SWBICBD.html

Category:

Education

Tags:

• mindset
• talents
• beliefs
• achievement

[uncleshan]

thankyou for posting this. cheers.

[REASONINFUSION]

@springrobin You are right on point!!! As a black man who has always been at the top of my class including my Philosophy classes where I would be often the only black student, I have always resented the refusal to apply the facts to the study of black IQ.

[springrobin]

Special Ed teachers have known this for years, the regular ed community just failed (refused to) to see it as a practice essential to all.

[Sat191]

I'm actually working on achievement goal theory... In few days i'm gonna be psychologist and i think reflexions about this theory deserve a great interest in the society.

Even if, like other theories, this one has been critizised, it's fundamental to understand that success is in part due to our believes on our perceptions of our own competences!

So thanks for your post