Growth Mindset vs Fixed Mindset
Growth Mindset vs Fixed Mindset (Carol Dweck): How beliefs about abilities affect learning, performance, and resilience.
The Two Mindsets
Fixed Mindset: Abilities are fixed traits. Avoids challenges, gives up easily, sees effort as fruitless, feels threatened by others’ success.
Growth Mindset: Abilities can be developed. Embraces challenges, persists through setbacks, sees effort as path to mastery, learns from criticism.
Impact
- Learning: Fixed avoids learning; Growth sees it as opportunity
- Performance: Fixed proves ability; Growth improves ability
- Failure: Fixed sees it as devastating; Growth sees it as feedback
Developing Growth Mindset
- Reframe: “I can’t do this” → “I can’t do this yet”
- Focus on process over results
- Value effort and learning
Nuances
- Not everything is malleable; balance realism with growth
- Environment and resources matter; mindset alone isn’t sufficient
- Don’t use to blame people or ignore real limitations
Related Concepts
- [[Coachable vs Learnable vs Intrinsic Skills]]
- [[Intrinsic Qualities in Hiring]]
- [[Flexibility Over Rigidity]]
Based on Carol Dweck’s research. Referenced in multiple source notes about learning and development.
Linked References
- [[Adaptability]]
The ability to adjust to new conditions and circumstances.
- [[Amateur Mindset]]
Embracing the beginner’s mind and incremental improvement over perfectionism.
- [[Dunning-Kruger Effect]]
Cognitive bias where people with low ability overestimate their competence, while high performers …
- [[Lone Genius Myth]]
The false narrative that great work emerges from isolated individuals with superhuman talents.
- [[Resilience]]
The ability to recover from setbacks and adapt to adversity.
- [[Show Your Work! by Austin Kleon]]
10 ways to share your creativity and get discovered - a guide to showing your work and building an …
- [[Coachable vs Learnable vs Intrinsic Skills]]
Framework for categorizing skills by how they can be developed.
- [[Coachable, Learnable, and Intrinsic - Hiring Framework]]
Framework for understanding which skills are coachable, learnable, or intrinsic when hiring.
- [[Flexibility Over Rigidity]]
Resilience comes from flexibility, not rigidity - like redwoods that bend with the wind.
- [[Intrinsic Qualities in Hiring]]
Why intrinsic qualities matter most in hiring and cannot be easily developed.