Fixed Mindset Research Paper

The way that people think about their ability to change and grow can impact their lives. In her book, Mindset: The new psychology of success, Carol Dweck introduces this way of viewing of the world as our mindsets. She proposes that there are two different types of mindsets: growth and fixed. People with a growth mindset see their abilities as something that can be cultivated and changed through effort. They are more willing to take chances to learn and grow.

People have mindsets, Fixed and Growth mindsets. Some people respond With a fixed mindset means that people`s intelligence is “fixed” or permanent.

But, I want to share with you what people with fixed mindset think and how people with growth mindset think. And, I look at the fixed mindset and think this was me. I was stuck in this place and it just destroyed me. It kept me from doing anything that made me happy and what I enjoyed. Nowadays, I still have to catch myself and think that if I made a mistake or something happens to my business that was not suppose to go as planned, I think man, “Is this really where I’m supposed to be?”

People who have a fixed mindset usually want something easy and not challenging; they feel scared to lose while growth mindset people tend to love challenges and making mistakes lives within their body as a trait. The author proves when she said that students with fixed mindset will never showed any interest when they found difficulties in completing those assignment. Only when they did well right away, they will feel the enjoyment. In contrast, the harder it gets, the more urges for the growth mindset to grab the knowledge and feel excited to learn something. Carol Dweck also gives an example in Columbia where she met a lot of intelligent med students who always get A’s in their test. It only took a day to make them a failure, when they said

When students encounter challenging tasks or experience failure, they make different attributions about the causes. They may focus on their intelligence or level of effort. How our beliefs about intelligence impact our goals and performance is the focus of Carol Dweck’s work (Blackwell, Trzesniewski, & Dweck, 2007; Dweck, 1986; Dweck, 1999; Hong, Chui, Dweck, Lin, & Wan, 1999). Dweck’s implicit theories of intelligence involves two mindsets: the fixed view and the malleable view. People who have a fixed mindset often believe that their own intelligence is fixed entity that cannot be changed; and those who have a malleable mindset believe that their intelligence can be changed and increased (Dweck, 1999). These two mindsets have profound influences on students’ responses to challenging situations, potentially leading to the extremes of withdrawal of effort and learned helplessness (fixed mindset) or persistent effort and a mastery orientation (malleable mindset). Fortunately, mindsets can be altered and used as interventions to

A fixed mindset is having the belief that your traits and talents are "given". Nothing can be done to change those traits and abilities - you have it or you don't. People with this mindset are worried about how adequate they are and believe that they have something to prove to themselves and to others (Dweck n.p.).

Even the most gruesome of challenges is capable of making life changing experiences, despite the setbacks. One of them is the possession of a fixed mindset, which has proven to be harmful and can negatively influence the thought process of an individual. From personal experience, the transition from middle school to high school deemed to be difficult as the exams and expectations became overwhelming. Critical thinking and memorization skills became prominent tactics in order to earn high marks in classes and on exams. However, even the smallest of work habits can create the most effective results. For me, one subject had kept me focusing on the fixed mindset, which led to the cycle of self-doubt.

Fixed mindsets believe that you’re born with a certain amount of intelligence. This mindset believes that their fixed traits are responsible for their success. Fixed mindsets tend to avoid challenges because they’re afraid to look stupid or dumb.

After learning about the “power of yet” and the difference between a growth and fixed mindset, I came to the conclusion that I have a fixed mindset. One example from, “Carol Dweck: The power of believing you can improve,” asks the questions, “Are we raising kids who are obsessed with getting A’s? Are we raising kids that don’t know how to dream big dreams?” In relation to the quote, when I was in seventh grade I failed a pre algebra test. When I saw my grade I was too ashamed to tell my parents, so instead I hid the fact that I failed from my parents. I was disappointed in myself and felt dumb. This proves that I have a fixed mindset because I was so used to being able to get A’s and being praised for being successful, I could not possibly

The growth mindset is an essential part of being a learner in this day and age. The growth mindset is a learning philosophy erected by Stanford Psychologist Carol Dweck. She found that there are two type of learners; fixed mindset and growth mindset. Students with a fixed mindset believe intelligence is an innately given trait and can’t do anything to change it. On the latter, there are growth mindset students; they believe that intelligence is something that can be grown and developed. Through Dweck’s numerous studies she found that students with a fixed mindset tend to suffer academically, especially as they reach higher levels of schooling. These students care more about looking smart than about actual learning. Dweck found that these learners sacrifice valuable learning opportunities where they could have made mistakes and asked questions,

The fixed mindset limits a person to grow to the fullest potential. In the face of challenge, the tendency of a fixed mindset is avoidance rather than risk failure; when meeting an obstacle the response is to give up; effort is seen as useless as this does not change anything. Advocates of the fixed mindset believes that intelligence is measurable as shown in standardized tests given for students and employment applicants. The text fixes abilities and potential at a certain percentage score.

============Generally speaking, fixed mindsets are when “...students believe that intelligence is fixed, that each person has a certain amount and that’s that (Dweck, 2006).” By contrast, growth mindsets are when students believe their intelligence is not fixed, and that, in fact, it can be further developed, or “cultivated through effort and education (Dweck, 2006).” Dweck futher illustrates the differences between fixed and growth mindsets, in relation to one’s learning, through a two-year analysis of seventh-graders enrolled in math class. ============

One thing an effective teacher can do to assist in changing a fixed mindset is teaching students about their brains and how it works will encourage changing to a growth mindset. However, teachers should not call students smart as it is dangerous in promoting a fixed mindset. They also should not limit the curriculum but focus on challenging curriculum, as challenging curriculum promotes a growth

The reason behind students having a fixed mindset is definitely the fear of failing and letting someone they love or themselves down. Failing is seen in light of what has been lost or not achieved and as an example of our own inadequacy. Probably the most damaging effect of a fixed mindset is that the emphasis on external rewards and validations takes attention away from internal development. By constantly striving for external recognition and signs of success, we find ourselves deceiving others and distracting ourselves from who we truly are.

Do you remember Dr. Carol Dweck? Please bear in mind that for you to understand your mindset, you have to think about what she has found from her teaching about this subject of mindset. She had been quoted again and again in many discussions about mindset. Much of she said on mindset has been tested and trusted. As time passes by, we’re seeing that her words are true and more helpful on this matter. For instance, she said that intelligence and personality can be cultivated and developed. And that they’re not what you can’t change if you have the growth mindset. So the terms or expressions: fixed mindset and growth mindset came from her. Let’s explain these two main types of