So telling children they’re smart, in the end, made them feel dumber and act dumber, but claim they were smarter. I don’t think this is what we’re aiming for when we put positive labels – “gifted”, “talented”, “brilliant” – on people. We don’t mean to rob them of their zest for challenge and their recipes for success. But that’s the danger
-Carol S. Dweck, pg 74, mindset, THE NEW PSYCHOLOGY OF SUCCESS
Reading the book mindset by Carol Dweck. It’s about two mindsets: growth and fixed. The quote above is from a section in the book describing was an interesting study. That often when ‘labeled’ children don’t look to improve, instead they become more concern with ‘appearing’ talented or smart.
She suggests that we should praise people for effort, not for talent which can have the opposite effect than what is actually intended. It can make learning less enjoyable. I found this interesting, particularly that something that seems (at least to me) can have such a big impact on how one perceives themself, and how it affects the willingness to learn and to grow. I will continue to work on revising my mindset towards the growth mindset.
Thanks to Linda S (and her pugs) for the book recommendation.