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I made an attempt to find an actual definition: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mindset https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mindset > According to Carol Dweck,[11] in
by msla 7y ago
I made an attempt to find an actual definition:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mindset https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mindset
> According to Carol Dweck,[11] individuals can be placed on a continuum according to their implicit views of "where ability comes from".
> Dweck states that there are two categories (growth mindset versus fixed mindset) that can group individuals based on their behaviour, specifically their reaction to failure. Those with a "fixed mindset" believe that abilities are mostly innate and interpret failure as the lack of necessary basic abilities, while those with a "growth mindset" believe that they can acquire any given ability provided they invest effort or study. In particular, an individual's mindset impacts how they face and cope with challenges, such as the transition into junior high school from elementary school or losing your job.[11] According to Dweck, individuals with a "growth" theory are more likely to continue working hard despite setbacks.
I have some poison I'd like to administer: You think this is great, but I find it sinister. It's a wonderful way to blame failure on the person, for if they were growers they'd win no matter what they had to work from. Are some people worse, or simply worse-off? "Use the growth mindset!" the growers can scoff! "There's nothing you can't achieve in the end!" and if you don't, well, they can just condescend. It's impossible to win against such philosophy; it allows them to ignore serious issues, and just fail to see a jammed-up or scammy underlying system, in which you can't rise and must always get pissed on.
But enough of my cynical snarling. I'm sure my growth mindset will let me be the first 36-year-old NCAA champion. You know, unless coronavirus destroys it utterly.
- nefitty 7y agoWell, if a person doesn't see any possible path toward some destination, then they will probably not even try. If I see a path toward the destination, but it will take me a million years of walking, then that's not a fault of mindset theory. It doesn't promise that I'll be able to muster the million mile walk, it just promises that if I look closely enough, I might be able to make out the path there. I am somewhat skeptical of mindset theory but intuitively, it makes sense and tracks with how I expect a human mind to react to difficult projects.
- harimau777 7y agoFor sake of argument, if it doesn't promise that a growth mindset will allow you to succeed, then what good is it? How is it different than blind faith?
- maroonblazer 7y agoIs the promise that a growth mindset will allow you to succeed? Or, instead, to improve? Is that what's meant by "succeed"?
- username90 7y agoThere is no point to improve if improving doesn't ultimately lead to some kind of success. Then instead you should try to work on improving in other areas where your hard work is more likely to pay off.
- wpietri 7y agoI mean, sure, there's no tool so advanced that a jerk can't grab it and beat people with it. I think the solution isn't to block new tools. It's to block jerks.
- timwaagh 7y agoExcept this isn't a tool. It's a value. You will have no choice but to become that 'jerk' if you actually adopt this value. I wouldn't say those people are jerks at all. They just believe in a certain thing. But that is precisely what is so worrying about it.
- wpietri 7y agoNot at all. The scenario that msla sketches is about a culture of blame, scoffing, condescension. In a context like that, Dweck's work isn't the difference between a good experience and a bad one. It's just a different stick to beat people with.
- jotm 7y agoI guess you need to couple this mindset with a "do my best, but failure is acceptable" attitude. Either that or a IDGAF attitude towards other people's opinions.