By chance, I came across some interesting information on Positive Psychology posted by Viv Thackray, a positive psychologist and trainer in London.
Mindset is a simple yet groundbreaking idea from the field of positive psychology. Psychologist and world renowned mindset expert, Carol Dweck, has spent decades researching achievement and success. Dweck’s research reveals that we all possess either a fixed mindset or a growth mindset. It’s possible to have a growth mindset in some areas of life and a fixed mindset in others. Mindset has a profound effect on motivation to learn.
Those with a growth mindset believe:
* intelligence, talent and ability are just the starting point, with effort they can be developed
* we are capable of improving all areas of our lives by developing our strengths
* failure hurts but isn’t defining
* the effort and process of learning are enjoyable
* you can always learn from setbacks and use them to develop
* successes are to be celebrated
Those with a fixed mindset believe:
* intelligence, abilities and talents are fixed and cannot be changed
* success is created by innate talent
* success = superiority
* effort makes no difference to ability
* failure is all defining and results in a fear of being judged
* people with a fixed mindset have less ability to bounce back from setbacks because they believe failure defines them