By Jaskiran Kaur
(Source: Telangana Today, Published Date – 5 May 2025)
Historically, educational systems have reinforced fixed mindsets by emphasising rote learning and standardised testing and, sometimes, even labelling children “gifted” and “average” based on test scores. Similarly, workplaces have also operated through rigid hierarchies, promoting resembling perceptions about intelligence.
Challenging these beliefs, Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck introduced the concept of Growth Mindset in her book ‘Mindset: The New Psychology of Success’ (2006). Dweck and her colleagues conducted research featuring ethnically and economically diverse students, demonstrating how students with a growth mindset were more likely to achieve their goals, be more resilient and solution-focused. In her study about academic tenacity, she explained that the key factor in fostering resilience is a student’s mindset about intelligence.
“Students with a fixed mindset believe that their intellectual ability is a limited entity, and they tend to worry about proving it rather than improving it,” researchers explain. “By contrast, students with a growth mindset will often perceive the identical challenge or setback in an entirely different light — as an opportunity to learn. As a result, they respond with constructive thoughts (eg, “Maybe I need to change my strategy or try harder”), feelings (such as the excitement of a challenge), and behaviour (persistence).”
More here: Growth Mindset in Education
Know Thyself 