November 13, 2025 · Behavioral science and school psychology

Growth mindset

What is the Growth Mindset?

Definition

A growth mindset is the belief that abilities, intelligence, and talents can be developed through effort, strategies, feedback, and persistence. People with this view expect that challenges can be overcome with practice and that mistakes are opportunities to learn rather than proof of fixed limits. This perspective shapes how they approach tasks, respond to setbacks, and pursue improvement over time.

Fixed vs Growth Mindset

In contrast, a fixed mindset holds that abilities are static traits that cannot change much. Individuals with a fixed mindset may see effort as pointless or as a sign of deficiency, prefer tasks they can already excel at, and may give up quickly when faced with difficulty. The two mindsets describe patterns of thinking that influence motivation, resilience, and long-term achievement. The distinction is not about talent alone but about how people interpret effort, feedback, and failure.

Origins and Key Research

The concept emerged from research by psychologist Carol Dweck and colleagues, who observed that students’ beliefs about intelligence influenced their learning behaviors. Early studies contrasted fixed and growth mindsets by examining responses to mistakes, strategies used to solve problems, and willingness to tackle challenging material. Over time, a robust body of work connected growth-oriented beliefs to deeper learning strategies, persistence in the face of difficulty, and a more adaptive approach to feedback. While initial studies highlighted clear patterns, subsequent research has shown that mindset interacts with environment, culture, and context, making the practical application more nuanced than a simple label.

Benefits of a Growth Mindset

Academic achievement

In educational settings, a growth mindset often accompanies greater use of effective study strategies, flexible problem solving, and a willingness to revise plans based on feedback. Students who view abilities as improvable tend to set process-oriented goals, monitor their understanding, and seek additional help when needed. While mindset is not the sole determinant of performance, it aligns with behaviors that support long-term academic growth and achievement.

Resilience and perseverance

Resilience rises when individuals interpret setbacks as part of the learning process rather than as confirmations of their limits. A growth orientation encourages effort after failure, reframing obstacles as information to inform next steps. This mindset supports perseverance through difficult tasks, enabling learners to recover from missteps more quickly and maintain motivation during challenging periods.

Motivation and engagement

With a growth mindset, motivation increasingly comes from the process of learning itself. Students and workers become more curious, seek feedback, and engage with tasks that stretch their abilities. This sustained engagement often leads to more persistent practice, better mastery, and a stronger connection between effort and improvement.

Developing a Growth Mindset

Practical strategies

Label learning as a process: emphasize strategies, effort, and progress rather than fixed traits.
Use process-oriented praise: highlight the approach, tactics, and improvements rather than innate talent.
Frame mistakes as feedback: analyze errors, identify what to adjust, and plan next steps.
Set learning goals: focus on mastering new skills and understanding concepts, not just outcomes.
Model the mindset: demonstrate how you approach difficulties and learning challenges.

Daily practices

Start with a reflection on what was learned today and what remains unclear.
Seek feedback routinely and translate it into concrete next actions.
Schedule time for deliberate practice on one skills area each day.
Use “yet” language: “I can’t solve this yet,” to reinforce potential.
Document small wins to reinforce growth trajectories and momentum.

Feedback and reflection

Request specific, actionable feedback about methods and strategies used.
Reflect on how feedback was applied and what changed as a result.
Set a plan for the next practice cycle based on feedback and reflection.

Growth Mindset in Education

Classroom strategies

Display messages that intelligence can grow with effort and practice.
Encourage collaborative problem solving and productive struggle.
Offer tasks that are challenging yet attainable, with scaffolding as needed.
Use formative assessments to guide next steps rather than assign fixed labels.
Provide choices that empower learners to take ownership of their progress.

Assessment and feedback

Frame feedback around strategies and processes, not personal worth.
Include opportunities to revise work after receiving feedback.
Use rubrics that emphasize growth, effort, and problem-solving approaches.

Teacher role

Teachers model a growth mindset by approaching challenges publicly, narrating their own learning process, and welcoming errors as part of learning. They design environments where risk-taking is safe, feedback is timely and specific, and students see effort as a path to mastery. The teacher’s belief about learning shapes classroom norms and expectations just as much as the curriculum does.

Growth Mindset in the Workplace

Learning culture

Foster psychological safety so employees feel comfortable sharing ideas and admitting gaps.
Provide time and resources for ongoing learning, coaching, and cross-functional collaboration.
Encourage experimentation and learning from unsuccessful attempts without punitive consequences.

Feedback and growth

Adopt regular, constructive feedback loops focused on development plans.
Use continuous improvement cycles (plan–do–check–act) to refine processes and skills.
Celebrate learning milestones and practical improvements, not only perfect outcomes.

Leadership applications

Leaders model lifelong learning and openness to new approaches.
Set ambitious, stretch goals and provide coaching to reach them.
Reward progress, strategic risk-taking, and resilient problem solving.

Common Myths and Misconceptions

It’s only for kids

While growth mindset concepts are often introduced in education, they apply to people of all ages. Adults benefit from reframing challenges, seeking feedback, and adopting new skills with deliberate practice. The underlying ideas—effort, strategy, and persistence—are universal in nature, not limited by age.

It’s about praising effort only

Praise for effort is valuable when it accompanies recognition of effective strategies and progress. Merely praising effort without acknowledging strategy can be empty. The goal is to reinforce productive approaches, not to reward effort alone without reflection or improvement.

It ignores ability

A growth mindset does not deny that some people have different starting points or talents. It emphasizes that abilities can be developed through practice and smart strategies. Recognizing starting points while focusing on growth helps create equitable opportunities for improvement.

Measuring Mindset and Progress

Surveys and indicators

Researchers use mindset questionnaires, self-assessment scales, and behavioral indicators to gauge beliefs about learning and improvement. These tools can reveal tendencies toward growth-oriented thinking but are not definitive measures of talent or potential. Cultural context and instructional settings can influence results, so interpretation should be careful and paired with behavioral observations.

Case studies

Case studies in schools and workplaces show that growth mindset practices can correlate with increased engagement and skill development. However, outcomes vary depending on how the mindset concept is implemented, the quality of feedback, and the surrounding environment. Sustained impact often requires systemic support beyond isolated interventions.

Limitations of measurement

Mindset measurements capture beliefs at a point in time and may not predict long-term outcomes in isolation. Self-report bias, social desirability, and differing interpretations of questionnaire items can blur results. A holistic approach combines surveys with performance data, observations, and qualitative feedback to understand true growth trajectories.

Tools, Resources, and Next Steps

Books and courses

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck — foundational overview of fixed vs growth mindsets and their implications for learning and achievement.
The Growth Mindset Coach by Annie Brock and Heather Hundley — practical strategies for teachers to foster growth-oriented classrooms.
Mindset-related courses and modules on education platforms — programs that translate theory into classroom practice and workplace applications.

Apps and templates

Templates for goal setting, reflection journals, and learning plans that emphasize process and strategy.
Digital learning logs or progress trackers that highlight practice, feedback, and iteration.
Simple rubrics and checklists focused on growth strategies, not just outcomes.

Community and support

Professional learning networks, teacher study groups, and workplace communities dedicated to growth-oriented practices.
Mentorship programs that pair learners with coaches who model effective learning strategies.
Online forums and discussion spaces for sharing experiences, challenges, and successes in applying growth mindset concepts.

Trusted Source Insight

Overview

UNESCO emphasizes that learners’ beliefs about intelligence shape motivation and persistence, and that inclusive, high-quality education supports growth-oriented attitudes. The source advocates lifelong learning and equitable access to learning opportunities for all students.

Trusted Source Link: https://www.unesco.org