Mindset and beliefs about effort
Students with a fixed mindset may be suspicious about the worth of effort. If they believe that learning should come to them easily because they are smart they may be hesitant to put effort into a task. Sometimes, they will put in the effort but disguise how much work it took them to succeed. Other times, they will not put in the effort for fear that it may injure their egoistic beliefs. In their minds, effort is not a part of being smart.
If a student has a fixed mindset and believes failure means she is not smart she may want to avoid challenging activities for fear of losing her label as the smart one. She may believe any of the following:
If a student has a fixed mindset and believes failure means she is not smart she may want to avoid challenging activities for fear of losing her label as the smart one. She may believe any of the following:
- I am just cruising through this material, I must be smart. This work is a little challenging. I hope nobody notices that this is hard for me and thinks I'm stupid.
- I don't know if I can do this. People are going to stop thinking I'm smart. I'll act like I'm lazy, instead.
- This is hard. I'm going to throw a little tantrum. Then, people won't notice that the work is hard for me.
- Since this is too easy, I am going to go online and do some research so I can learn more about it than what they are teaching me in school.
- This is a little challenging. Good. I am to have to grow my brain to get this. My brain is going to get even stronger.
- This is really challenging. I will have to assess my skills carefully, look at what skills I still need to develop,
create a plan, and then really work hard. - If I create good strategies and put in the effort, I can do this. This is great.
Supporting a growth mindset interpretation of effort
To encourage a growth mindset, provide supportive comments or ask the following questions when your child is successful:
- Did you put in enough effort to be successful at this task?
- How can you schedule your time necessary to be successful in your next effort?
- You were really successful. I saw how much effort you put into doing a good job. It really paid off.
- Will you need some support to help you be successful even when you put in the effort?
- How can I help to support your decision to put in more effort?
- Did you really try hard but you need to improve other skills to be successful at this task?
- Did you really try hard but you need new strategies?
References
Dweck, Carol S. (2008) Mindset: The new psychology of success. Ballantine Books, NY.
Lightsey, Richard. (1999). Albert Bandura and the Exercise of Self-Efficacy. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy. 13:2 pp 158-166.
Usher, Ellen L., Pajares, Frank. (2008). Sources of Self-efficacy in school: Critical review of the literature and future directions. Review of Educational Research. 78:4 pp 751-796.
Lightsey, Richard. (1999). Albert Bandura and the Exercise of Self-Efficacy. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy. 13:2 pp 158-166.
Usher, Ellen L., Pajares, Frank. (2008). Sources of Self-efficacy in school: Critical review of the literature and future directions. Review of Educational Research. 78:4 pp 751-796.