{"id":26497,"date":"2021-02-21T16:31:37","date_gmt":"2021-02-21T20:31:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=26497"},"modified":"2026-01-21T16:47:21","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T20:47:21","slug":"growth-and-fixed-mindsets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/growth-and-fixed-mindsets\/","title":{"rendered":"Growth and Fixed Mindsets: The Psychology of Success"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What are the defining characteristics of growth and fixed mindsets? What is the belief system<\/a> behind each mindset?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The concept of growth and fixed mindsets was developed by American psychologist Carol Dweck. People with a growth mindset<\/a> believe that skill excellence and accomplishment are achieved through practice. In contrast, people with a fixed mindset<\/a> attribute success to inborn abilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read about the characteristics of growth and fixed mindsets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Growth Mindset and Fixed Mindset<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Carol Dweck <\/em>developed the concept of growth and fixed mindsets to describe the underlying beliefs people have about success and achievement. People with a growth mindset believe that talent and intelligence can be developed through learning and practice. The fixed mindset tells us that talent and intelligence are traits we\u2019re born with, so the practice can only strengthen the natural abilities that are already there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To illustrate this difference, imagine a child getting a bad grade on a math test. If the child has a fixed mindset, they might say, \u201cI\u2019m just bad at math,\u201d and accept their fate. They see mathematical ability as a fixed trait, which means trying to improve seems as futile as trying to get taller. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand, a child with a growth mindset might be upset about a bad grade but would see it as an opportunity to improve. Instead of thinking, \u201cI\u2019m just bad at math,\u201d they\u2019re more likely to think, \u201cI still don\u2019t understand this, so I should keep working on it.\u201d They believe their effort is meaningful, so they keep trying (and therefore keep improving). They don\u2019t see themselves as inherently \u201cgood\u201d or \u201cbad\u201d at math\u2014that ability is just a skill they’ve improved through practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learning From Failure<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Fittingly, a growth mindset is also an ability that can be developed with practice. Abstract learning is not enough, just like reading about riding a bike isn\u2019t enough to actually learn how to ride one. To really learn, we have to be willing to try\u2014and willing to fail. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learning a skill<\/a> requires two things: tacit knowledge <\/strong>(knowledge gained from direct experience) and effective feedback<\/a><\/strong>. For physical skills like riding a bike, feedback is immediate and unambiguous\u2014if you do something wrong, you fall. But, for more abstract skills, quick and clear feedback isn\u2019t a given.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n