What You Need to Know About Growth and Fixed Mindsets

The concept of mindset, or a person's beliefs and attitudes about their own abilities and intelligence, has been widely studied in psychology. In particular, the idea of a fixed mindset versus a growth mindset has gained significant attention in recent years. In this article, we will explore what these two mindsets are, how they differ, and what the research tells us about their impact on success and achievement.

Growth Mindset

A growth mindset is the belief that one's abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort and hard work. Those with a growth mindset embrace challenges as opportunities for learning and growth, and believe that failure is a natural part of the learning process. They may seek out feedback and use it to improve their performance.

Fixed Mindset

A fixed mindset is the belief that one's abilities and intelligence are predetermined and cannot be changed. Those with a fixed mindset believe that they are either born with certain talents or not, and that their potential for growth is limited. They may avoid challenges or tasks that they perceive as too difficult, as they fear failure or being exposed as less intelligent or capable.

This can lead to an urge to want to prove oneself over and over again (trauma can do this too!)

In the book ‘Mindset’ by Carol Dweck, PhD., she shares her research on fixed and growth mindsets. (Which I highly recommend because it’s filled with research, humanness and humor! My fave combo).

One example she shares is of two groups of children who are given puzzles to complete.

One group of children decided that the puzzles were too hard and therefore didn’t like it and didn’t want to continue.

The other group of children loved the challenge and asked for more puzzles to bring home.

She thought: Who ARE these kids?

These kids already displayed signs of fixed and growth mindsets.

Now, the most important part of this is that we are not all growth mindset or all fixed mindset.

As I read this book, a lightbulb went off I discovered an area in my business where I was applying a fixed mindset.

Recently, I heard a story about a small company that grew bigger and more successful but still had a bottleneck. This was due to the owners fears of letting go and trusting the experts they actually hired to help them.

We can have a growth mindset with a hint of fixed.

Is there an area in your life or business you’ve been avoiding, that seems hard to let go, or there’s a great chance you may fail?

Remember that failure does not determine your character.

Remember that there’s always a way.

Remember that you may be on the right path, you just need more chances and opportunities to practice.

Numerous studies have investigated the impact of mindset on success and achievement. For example, a study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that students who were taught a growth mindset were more likely to persevere through challenges and achieve higher grades than those who were not taught a growth mindset (Blackwell et al., 2007).

Another study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General found that adults with a growth mindset were more likely to take on challenges and persist in the face of obstacles than those with a fixed mindset (Moser et al., 2011). Additionally, research has shown that athletes with a growth mindset are more likely to improve their performance over time than those with a fixed mindset (Galli & Vealey, 2008).

The concept of mindset is an important one to understand, particularly in terms of the fixed versus growth mindset. Those with a fixed mindset may be more likely to avoid challenges and limit their potential for growth, while those with a growth mindset are more likely to embrace challenges and use them as opportunities for learning and improvement. Research has shown that teaching a growth mindset can have significant benefits for students, athletes, and adults alike.

What areas of your life or business are you applying a fixed mindset where you could really benefit from a growth mindset?

If you’ve done the therapy, have a solid foundation, and want to expand even more in your growth mindset, contact me for one on one or corporate coaching support.

References:

Blackwell, L. S., Trzesniewski, K. H., & Dweck, C. S. (2007). Implicit theories of intelligence predict achievement across an adolescent transition: A longitudinal study and an intervention. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 92(1), 83–96. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.92.1.83

Galli, N., & Vealey, R. S. (2008). “Bouncing back” from adversity: Athletes’ experiences of resilience. The Sport Psychologist, 22(3), 316–335. https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.22.3.316

Moser, J. S., Schroder, H. S., Heeter, C., Moran, T. P., & Lee, Y. H. (2011). Mind your errors: Evidence for a neural mechanism linking growth mindset to adaptive post-error adjustments. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 141(4), 730–736. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0024204

Angela Williams, LCSW

Angela Williams is a licensed therapist, podcast host, and founder of Angela Marie Coaching, a lifestyle coaching business that empowers high-profile leaders and changemakers to reach their next level of success. Angela has helped thousands of individuals learn, grow and become inspired to reach their next level of transformation in her work as a therapist, coach, educator and speaker.

Her mission is to empower high-achieving individuals to elevate their potential so they can achieve their dreams, enjoy their lives,  and impact future generations for good.