Growth Mindset In The Great Gatsby

In school, at the stores, anywhere, there are two types of people that can be encountered. What makes these two types of people different is their mindsets. One type has the mindset of a pessimist; they think they cannot do certain tasks and are afraid of looking stupid. The other type has the mindset of an optimist; they always try new things and are not scared to do so. In the article “Brainology” by Carol S. Dweck, she states that there are two different mindsets that people can possess, either a fixed mindset (pessimist) or a growth mindset (optimist); these mindsets are developed at a young age and will influence a person’s choices and opportunities.

There are many instances in our lives when we feel like giving up, and accepting our failures. It is the difference between a fixed and a growth mindset that stops us, or encourages us. It was just last year ago when I really understood the consequence of a fixed mindset, and the positive outcome of a growth mindset.

Carol S. Dweck's article “Brainology – Transforming Student's Motivation to Learn” offers insights about student's mentality at school and why some students are better off than others. The article claims directly that students generally have two mindsets when it comes to learning; one is “fixed mindset,” a negative trait, and the other is “growth mindset,” a positive trait. Both of these traits contradict each other in terms of meaning. These two mindsets impact students on whether or not they will be successful on their academic road. In “Brainology – Transforming Student's Motivation to Learn,” Dweck explains how these two traits influence the outcome of having one of these two mindsets through

They’re two different beliefs the author focus on, the fixed mindset, and the growth mindset. Fixed mindset students avoid challenges, and ignoring useful feedbacks to improve certain skills. People who are fixed mindset gives up easily or pursue less challenges. While students with a growth mindset accept challenges, learns from criticism, and sees failure as an opportunity to get better. On the two faces of efforts article, it states “students with growth mindset out preforms their classmates with fixed mindsets.” Especially when the article compared two different students confronting algebra for the first time. While the student with a fixed mindset barely pays attention in class, the student with a growth mindset puts the effort to learn the topic.

Basically, individuals with a fixed mindset often feel measured by a failure, sometimes permanently. Unfortunately, failed attempts are viewed as a label rather than an opportunity to plan a new path of succes. On the other hand, an individual with a growth mindset views a failed attempt as an opportunity to take action, to confront obstacles, to keep up with their schoolwork, and/or to better manage and organize their time. Growth mindset individuals believe that qualities can be developed, expanded, and eventually result in a successful outcome. A second lesson learned is the power of labels and the stereotype of ability; this lesson is undoubtedly one of the most enlightening. Dweck discovered in one of her studies that, “... ability praise often pushed students right into a fixed mindset, and they showed all the signs of it too. When we gave them a choice, they rejected a challenging new task that they could learn from. They didn’t want to do anything that could expose their flaws and call into question their talent” (72). One’s mindset determines their reaction to labels and stereotypes. An individual with a fixed mindset will settle for a positive label and chose stagnation and permanent inferiority rather than risk losing the label; whereas,

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.

To compare and contrast the two is very easy because they are very alike yet very different. A fixed mindset is wanting to look smart without doing the work like avoiding challenges , giving up easily and not getting things your full effort they also hate constructive criticism which leads them to feel threatened by others success. A growth mindset is someone who want to learn and challenge themselves and over come all setbacks so that they can master what they are learning they take constructive criticism very well which leads them to become happy at the success of others.

In an article called “Brainology” Carol S. Dweck argues that there is a fixed mindset and growth mindset and I agree because Dweck says “not everyone has the same abilities or that someone can be as smart as Einstein, but Einstein wasn’t even Einstein until he put in the years of focused hard work.” So this tells me that if you have a fixed mindset you’ll be afraid to look smart so rather look dumb. On the other hand, if you have a growth mindset you’ll put in the hard work and achieve greatness. So either give up or we fight for what we want. We’ll either fail and quit or fail and get back on the horse and be something in

Dweck believes that someone who possesses a “growth mindset” is almost the polar opposite of someone who has a “fixed mindset.” A person with a growth mindset is able to think positively and see the silver lining of an unfavorable situation. They are able to improve from their mistakes, and always finds a way to become better at different aspects of life. Growth mindsets come with an open mind, making these people extremely versatile in any circumstance. In addition, their mindsets increase in complexity through maturity. They believe that as long as anyone puts in the effort, they have the potential to succeed.

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, by Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D., truly forces its audience to evaluate their mindset, whether it be a fixed or growth mindset, and to determine how they can improve upon that very mindset in their personal and professional lives. Throughout the book, Dweck explores what exactly the fixed mindset and the growth mindset are, and how “. . . the view you adopt for yourself profoundly affects the way you lead your

Dweck defines her understanding of a growth mindset as, “The growth mindset says all of these things can be developed. All – you, your partner, and the relationship – are capable of growth and change” (Maria Popova, BrainThinkings). Therefore, the weaker mindset would be known as fixed mindset, “In a fixed mindset, the ideal is stant, perfect, and perpetual compatability. Like it was meant to be. Like riding off into the sunset. Like they liked happily ever after” (Maria Popova, BrainThinkings).

People with the growth mindset care more about learning and are eager to learn. Dweck did a study of brain waves in the lab at Columbia. For example, Dweck explains that “only people with a growth mindset paid close attention to information that could stretch their knowledge” (Dweck18). This shows that individuals with a growth mindset are more passionate and motivated toward learning because they believe learning will make them grow and succeed. Anyone can learn and change how smart they are. Dweck did research for the students who entered the university and weren’t fluent in English. Also, she measured their mindset. Dweck told the students that they have a definite amount of intellect and they can’t do much about it. For instance, “those who learn with a growth mindset agree that: “You can always substantially change how intelligent you are’’ (Dweck 17). This indicates that students with a growth mindset firmly agree that an individual can constantly change how clever said individual is. People with the growth mindset strongly concur that success is about learning and gaining knowledge, so they don’t want to miss an opportunity to eliminate their language barrier. They have confidence that improving will expand their learning capabilities. The growth mindset can motivate you to continue when you have a

In the article “Carol Dweck Revisits the ‘Growth Mindset’,” Carol Dweck refines her definition of growth mindset, and she explains that since many have confused the concept, it is important to clarify the idea of growth mindset before people claim that they have one. Dweck explains that, although effort is an important factor for having a growth mindset, it is just as, if not more, important to ask others for help, to test out different strategies, and to ask what needs to be done in order to succeed the next time. Instead of claiming to possess a growth mindset just because it sounds better than possessing a fixed mindset, one should accept the mindset that they actually have. This will only help to develop a growth mindset, which is

“The Growth Mindset” by Rona Elisa talks about the difference between people with a fixed mindset and a growth mindset and how to overcome from fixed to growth mindset. People with a fixed mindset believe that their basic traits and skills are permanent and that it is a natural talent. Therefore, they do not challenge themselves in order to avoid any failure situations because they want to prove they are smart. Whereas, people with a growth mindset put the effort in learning to improve their basic qualities and skills. So, when it comes to challenging situations people with a fixed mindset either they try to avoid it or blame others, make up excuses, and/ or criticize in order for them to save their self- worth.

One of the most basic beliefs we carry about ourselves, Dweck found in her research, has to do with how we view and inhabit what we consider to be our personality. A “fixed mindset” is that we assumes that our intelligence, character, and creativity are static traits givens which we can’t change in any way, and success is the allegation of that inborn intelligence, an estimate of how those givens measure up against an equally fixed standard; aiming for prosperity and dodging failure becomes a way of claiming the sense of being smart or skilled. A “growth mindset,” on the other hand, emphasis on challenge and sees failure as evidence of unintelligence but as a positive bounce