Question
Check your mindset.
Do you have a fixed mindset in which you believe that your intelligence, talents and personality are set in stone? Or do you have a growth mindset, which believes these are things that you can cultivate and develop further throughout your life?
For 20 years, Stanford University Psychologist, Carol Dweck has been dedicated to demystifying the power of mindset. Her work includes several studies that have shown that the view you adopt for yourself profoundly affects the way you lead your life (not to mention, how you lead others). It can determine whether you are willing to take risks and try new things and strive to become the person you aspire to be.
Fixed vs. growth mindset
In one of Dweck’s early studies, she gave kindergarten students a questionnaire to determine which ones were predisposed to a fixed versus growth mindset. She then gave them all a very easy math problem. They all solved it correctly.
When she asked each group if they wanted to try a harder math problem, the fixed-mindset kids said, “Ummm….no thanks. I’m good.” Whereas the growth mindset kids enthusiastically said, “Sure!” Some got it right and some didn’t. She continued to offer increasingly difficult math problems, and the growth-mindset kids continued to take on the harder problem.
Essentially, the fixed-mindset kids said, “no,” because they didn’t want to risk getting the harder problem wrong, which would either make them feel stupid, look bad or prove that, despite what their parents have told them, they are not that smart after all.
The growth-mindset kids didn’t care about this. They were inherently more curious and interested in the learning, even if they failed. And when they did fail, they did not internalize the failure and take it as a statement about how good or smart they are.
The growth-mindset kids were inherently more resilient. These kids saw the math problems as an opportunity to learn, rather than a litmus test of their personal value. They weren’t concerned about looking bad or feeling stupid. They were interested in the learning and were able to get better with practice or effort. They did not see their intelligence or abilities as fixed.
A fixed mindset creates the need to prove oneself. Deficiencies must be hidden since they can’t be developed. Failure is to be avoided at all costs
A person with a fixed mindset is likely to...
avoid any challenge they face.
embrace failure as an opportunity.
avoid situations where they might fail.
embrace any challenge they encounter.
Do you have a fixed mindset in which you believe that your intelligence, talents and personality are set in stone? Or do you have a growth mindset, which believes these are things that you can cultivate and develop further throughout your life?
For 20 years, Stanford University Psychologist, Carol Dweck has been dedicated to demystifying the power of mindset. Her work includes several studies that have shown that the view you adopt for yourself profoundly affects the way you lead your life (not to mention, how you lead others). It can determine whether you are willing to take risks and try new things and strive to become the person you aspire to be.
Fixed vs. growth mindset
In one of Dweck’s early studies, she gave kindergarten students a questionnaire to determine which ones were predisposed to a fixed versus growth mindset. She then gave them all a very easy math problem. They all solved it correctly.
When she asked each group if they wanted to try a harder math problem, the fixed-mindset kids said, “Ummm….no thanks. I’m good.” Whereas the growth mindset kids enthusiastically said, “Sure!” Some got it right and some didn’t. She continued to offer increasingly difficult math problems, and the growth-mindset kids continued to take on the harder problem.
Essentially, the fixed-mindset kids said, “no,” because they didn’t want to risk getting the harder problem wrong, which would either make them feel stupid, look bad or prove that, despite what their parents have told them, they are not that smart after all.
The growth-mindset kids didn’t care about this. They were inherently more curious and interested in the learning, even if they failed. And when they did fail, they did not internalize the failure and take it as a statement about how good or smart they are.
The growth-mindset kids were inherently more resilient. These kids saw the math problems as an opportunity to learn, rather than a litmus test of their personal value. They weren’t concerned about looking bad or feeling stupid. They were interested in the learning and were able to get better with practice or effort. They did not see their intelligence or abilities as fixed.
A fixed mindset creates the need to prove oneself. Deficiencies must be hidden since they can’t be developed. Failure is to be avoided at all costs
A person with a fixed mindset is likely to...
avoid any challenge they face.
embrace failure as an opportunity.
avoid situations where they might fail.
embrace any challenge they encounter.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
A person with a fixed mindset is likely to:
- **Avoid any challenge they face.**
They tend to shy away from difficulties to prevent the risk of failure, fearing that failure reflects their inherent abilities.
- **Avoid situations where they might fail.**
This is because they believe that failure is a reflection of their intelligence or worth, and they want to maintain a positive self-image.
In contrast, a growth mindset encourages individuals to:
- **Embrace any challenge they encounter.**
They see challenges as opportunities for growth and learning, rather than threats to their self-worth.
- **Embrace failure as an opportunity.**
Those with a growth mindset recognize that failure is a natural part of the learning process and can provide valuable lessons that contribute to their development.
Overall, the distinction between these mindsets significantly impacts how individuals approach learning and self-improvement throughout their lives.
- **Avoid any challenge they face.**
They tend to shy away from difficulties to prevent the risk of failure, fearing that failure reflects their inherent abilities.
- **Avoid situations where they might fail.**
This is because they believe that failure is a reflection of their intelligence or worth, and they want to maintain a positive self-image.
In contrast, a growth mindset encourages individuals to:
- **Embrace any challenge they encounter.**
They see challenges as opportunities for growth and learning, rather than threats to their self-worth.
- **Embrace failure as an opportunity.**
Those with a growth mindset recognize that failure is a natural part of the learning process and can provide valuable lessons that contribute to their development.
Overall, the distinction between these mindsets significantly impacts how individuals approach learning and self-improvement throughout their lives.