On self-confidence and praise
Why do women fail?
People can adopt one of two mindsets about their abilities. Those with a "fixed mindset" believe their basic intelligence cannot be improved. They interpret a challenge -- like, say, an introductory economics course -- as a sign that they simply don't have the ability. They may then opt for a safer path.
By contrast, people with a "growth mindset" think their abilities can be improved with effort, strategy and mentoring. Drawn to challenge, they persist despite setbacks-or even because of setbacks.
Mindset can be traced to the types of praise we receive from parents and teachers. Celebrating a child's intelligence can instill a fixed mindset: the child becomes determined to prove how smart she is rather than learn from a task that might initially involve failure.
Children praised for their effort or strategies -- what's called "process praise" -- develop a growth mindset and become more motivated to tinker with a problem than solve it right off the bat.
I’m fascinated by articles like this. Because one of the skills that I did not learn as a child was how to keep trying at something that I initially failed at. I don’t know if it’s because neither one of my parents was capable of praise and encouragement, or temperament on my part, or just being easily frustrated or what. But it’s definitely a skill that I feel like I lack and need to work on.
People can adopt one of two mindsets about their abilities. Those with a "fixed mindset" believe their basic intelligence cannot be improved. They interpret a challenge -- like, say, an introductory economics course -- as a sign that they simply don't have the ability. They may then opt for a safer path.
By contrast, people with a "growth mindset" think their abilities can be improved with effort, strategy and mentoring. Drawn to challenge, they persist despite setbacks-or even because of setbacks.
Mindset can be traced to the types of praise we receive from parents and teachers. Celebrating a child's intelligence can instill a fixed mindset: the child becomes determined to prove how smart she is rather than learn from a task that might initially involve failure.
Children praised for their effort or strategies -- what's called "process praise" -- develop a growth mindset and become more motivated to tinker with a problem than solve it right off the bat.
I’m fascinated by articles like this. Because one of the skills that I did not learn as a child was how to keep trying at something that I initially failed at. I don’t know if it’s because neither one of my parents was capable of praise and encouragement, or temperament on my part, or just being easily frustrated or what. But it’s definitely a skill that I feel like I lack and need to work on.