Growth Mindset vs Fixed Mindset

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Growth Mindset vs Fixed Mindset

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According to American psychologist and Stanford University Professor Dr. Carol Dweck, individuals have two mindsets viz., fixed and growth mindset.

Fixed mindset – The individuals (students, professionals and others) believe that they have in-built specific abilities to achieve a certain amount of success and goals. Their primary goal is to achieve the stipulated or society-defined success and appear smart.

We have been taught a “fixed mindset” and have always been emphasizing the importance of the same. Does this remind you of Chatur from 3 Idiots?

Growth mindset – These individuals understand their existing abilities and talents and is well-aware that it can be developed/ honed through learning/ training. The individuals with a growth mindset know that they are unique or everyone is NOT the same.

Growth Mindset Vs Fixed Mindset

	Growth Mindset	Fixed Mindset
Learning	I can	I can’t
	This will help me master the art/ profession. I should continue learning consistently	I doubt this will help me. Instead, giving-up is a better option
Efforts	Yes, let’s do it	Doubt or No
	If I give my best, I can excel. So let’s keep trying	I don’t think so I am good enough for this, so why put unnecessary efforts
Challenges	Yes, I love them	No, I hate them
	Challenges will help me learn something new. They will push me to create my new limits and bring the best in me.	It’s better to give up, let me think of the best reason to avoid the challenge.
Failure	Opportunity to grow	No opportunity
	This is my learning curve; let’s make a note of this and move ahead	I can’t do this; punish myself or self-victimization. Developing several reasons why it didn’t work, convincing ourselves and others
Feedback	Yes, please	No way
	Oh this is where I went wrong, thank you for highlighting my areas of improvement	I know myself best, this person is a fault-finder and now s/he has got a chance to blame me