Mindsets: A View From Two Eras

This “Remarkable Resource” is taken from the Nov 2019 #happyacademic newsletter.
Source Article: (2019) Carol S Dweck & David S Yeager [LINK]
How can I maximize my changes of being and staying successful in life and work? Why do I feel strong negative emotions about parts of my academic work, other academics or criticism? How can I improve my ability to handle more and more complex work tasks?
This paper reports a historically important scoping review of past scientific research into the growth and fixed mindsets – key theories of intelligence that both explain some of the common reactions people have to success and failure in their work and life- and provide key insights into how to develop perspectives and practices you need to develop your brain’s ability to view difficulties more positively as learning and growth opportunities.
The papers is important because of the benefits developing your growth mindset can have. While we cover some of this research in How to be a Happy Academic – this wide-ranging review provides an up-to-date and extremely credible account of this body of key research. Anyone seeking to get better at learning, handling failure better, and increasing your chances of success should read it.
Key Messages
A large and diverse body of scientific research from across disciplines and decades consistently supports the high influence that growth over fixed mindsets can have on a person’s reactions to setbacks, capacity and inclination to improve, and overall wellbeing. To feel and be better, develop your growth mindset.
There is a growing body of high-quality evidence from interventions and programs (both in-person and electronic) which indicates that an individuals’ growth mindset in a given situation can be increased.
There is strong and consistent evidence that growth mindsets are not only held by individuals but are also evident in work cultures. These cultures influence hiring processes with the dominant mindset of most individuals tending to be mindset that is both dominant in the working culture and more common in new employees.