31 Develop a Growth Mindset
In any academic endeavor, you will encounter times when you are faced with obstacles or difficulties. Perhaps you are taking a course that you are finding particularly difficult. Perhaps you received some difficult feedback in a grade that was lower than you expected. How can you move ahead in a way that prepares you for success?
Everyone encounters setbacks at times. When this happens, you have a choice of possible responses. Some people respond to setbacks by concluding that they may lack the ability to complete the course successfully. Others respond by concluding that the course or instructor is unfair, and blame their setback on an external force beyond their control. These responses are associated with what is called a fixed mindset.
Others respond to setbacks and negative feedback by asking what they can learn from the experience. Their focus is less on achieving a specific grade or result, and more on learning as much as possible from their experiences in university. Individuals with this mindset, which is called a growth mindset are more able to recover from setbacks and to go on to achieve greater success.
How do these two mindsets compare?
| Growth mindset | Fixed mindset |
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A growth mindset is associated with successful learning. Why? The growth mindset principles are supported by what we know about the brain and learning. Adult brains continue to develop over time by through learning. Working to master complex material results in the development of additional neural connections. In other words, by learning difficult material, you can actually become smarter. If you believe that you are able to succeed by working hard, you are more able to persevere through the difficult moments in learning, and continue to make progress towards your learning goals. [2] [3]
![What mindset do you have? Indicate whether you agree or disagree with the following statements: Agree Disagree You cannot change the amount of intelligence you have. Even though you can learn new things, this doesn't change how intelligent you are. You are able to change the amount of intelligence you have throughout your life. Even though you are a certain kind of person now, you can still change the important parts of who you are. The first and second statements in this chart are characteristic ways of thinking of you have a fixed mindset. The third and fourth reflect a growth mindset. <a class="footnote" title="Adapted from: Dweck, C. S. (2008). Mindset: the new psychology of success. New York: Ballantine Books." id="return-footnote-416-1" href="#footnote-416-1" aria-label="Footnote 1"><sup class="footnote">[1]</sup></a> Which mindset do you have now? How can you continue to move towards a growth mindset?](https://pressbooks.bccampus.ca/studystrategizesucceed/wp-content/uploads/sites/327/2018/04/40-Develop-a-Growth-Mindset-791x1024.png)
- Adapted from: Dweck, C. S. (2008). Mindset: the new psychology of success. New York: Ballantine Books. ↵
- Paunesku, D., Walton, G. M., Romero, C., Smith, E. N., Yeager, D. S., & Dweck, C. S. (2015). Mind-set interventions are a scalable treatment for academic underachievement. Psychological Science, 26(6), 784–793. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797615571017 ↵
- Yeager, D. S., & Dweck, C. S. (2012). Mindsets that promote resilience: When students believe that personal characteristics can be developed. Educational Psychologist, 47(4), 302–314. https://doi.org/10.1080/00461520.2012.722805 ↵
