Carol S. Dweck Quotes

studies show that people are terrible at estimating their abilities. Recently, we set out to see who is most likely to do this. Sure, we found that people greatly misestimated their performance and their ability. But it was those with the fixed mindset who accounted for almost all the inaccuracy. The people with the growth mindset were amazingly accurate. When you think about it, this makes sense. If, like those with the growth mindset, you believe you can develop yourself, then you’re open to accurate information about your current abilities, even if it’s unflattering.

Not only weren’t they discouraged by failure, they didn’t even think they were failing. They thought they were learning.

Another way people with the fixed mindset try to repair their self-esteem after a failure is by assigning blame or making excuses.

What are the consequences of thinking that your intelligence or personality is something you can develop, as opposed to something that is a fixed, deep-seated trait? Let’s first look in on the age-old, fiercely waged debate about human nature and then return to the question of what these beliefs mean for you.

I start sentences with ands and buts. I end sentences with prepositions.

... test scores and measures of achievement tell you where a student is, but they don’t tell you where a student could end up.

Some of the world’s best athletes didn’t start out being that hot. If you have a passion for a sport, put in the effort and see.

scientists are learning that people have more capacity for lifelong learning and brain development than they ever thought.

...when people already know they're deficient, they have nothing to lose by trying.

Think about what you want to look back and say. Then choose your mindset.

Yet it's been clear to me for a long time that different students handle depression in dramatically different ways. Some let everything slide. Others, though feeling wretched, hang on. They drag themselves to class, keep up with their work, and take care of themselves — so that when they feel better, their lives are intact.

"Beware of success. It can knock you into a fixed mindset: "I won because I have talent. Therefore I will keep winning." Success can infect a team or it can infect an individual."

Character, the sportswriters said. They know it when they see it — it’s the ability to dig down and find the strength even when things are going against you.

What allowed me to take that first step, to choose growth and risk rejection? In the fixed mindset, I had needed my blame and bitterness. It made me feel more righteous, powerful, and whole than thinking I was at fault. The growth mindset allowed me to give up the blame and move on. The growth mindset gave me a mother.

The effort kids simply thought the difficulty meant “Apply more effort or try new strategies.” They didn’t see it as a failure, and they didn’t think it reflected on their intellect.