Intelligence, Ability, Talent....
are all fixed entities; you get what you get. IQ, abilities, talents are like a hand of cards you are dealt; some have the spelling or math "gene" and some don't; you can only work with what you've got.
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Intelligence, Ability, Talent....
are all growable; they can be developed. Although everyone is born with different abilities, anyone can better at things, and without cultivation abilities may never develop.
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The differences in mindset are seen when students approach:
For people with fixed mindsets, struggle means they are stupid, lacking in ability, at a deficit. Rather than struggle to improve they give up in order to save face and avoid the failure that they perceive to be inevitable.
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For people with growth mindsets, struggle represents opportunity and challenge. As they believe ability and intelligence grow through struggle they embrace challenge as an opportunity to grow in their abilities.
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To people with fixed mindsets, failure is a confirmation of their lack of ability. It is the stamp of approval or confirmation that their mindset is correct.
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To people with growth mindsets, failure is an indication that they have not yet accomplished their goal, that there is still room for improvement.
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The final result is that people with fixed mindsets don't try. Unwillingness to struggle and fear of failure confirm their notion that they simply do not have the "right stuff."
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For people with growth mindsets, the final result is that they push themselves to accomplish more. With the motto of "I am not there yet" they constantly accept the challenge to learn something new.
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