Dr. David Yeager, Raymond Dickson Centennial Professor of Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin, discusses powerful insights into motivating adolescents. He unveils the Mentor Mindset framework, emphasizing high expectations paired with robust support. Listeners learn about essential drivers of success like belonging and purpose, and the impact of relatable role models. Yeager also highlights the importance of strategic interventions and warns about the safety of EdTech tools, calling for collaborations to enhance youth's educational experiences.
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insights INSIGHT
Teen Brain
The adolescent brain prioritizes status and respect, not just short-term rewards.
Teens are capable of self-regulation and dedication when pursuing meaningful goals.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Relevance
Bill Gates missed the true meaning of relevance in curriculum.
Relevance is subjective, relating to an individual's goals and circumstances, not trivial details.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Mentor Mindset
Adopt the mentor mindset: set high standards and provide unwavering support.
Show respect and build relationships by investing time and energy in young people.
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In this book, David Yeager presents groundbreaking research on motivating young people between the ages of 10 and 25. He challenges the conventional 'incompetence model' of adolescent behavior, which views young people as lacking in maturity, self-control, and decision-making ability. Instead, Yeager introduces the social belonging theory, emphasizing that young people are driven by a deep need for social connection and belonging. The book explains how adults can adopt a 'mentor mindset' by validating young people’s perspectives, asking them questions, being transparent about their beliefs and goals, and holding them to high standards. This approach has been shown to reduce various behavior problems, including school dropout, unhealthy eating, stress, and mental health issues. Yeager's work provides a constructive and hopeful perspective on adolescent development, offering actionable insights for educators, parents, and mentors to create environments that foster motivation, resilience, and success[2][3][5].
Dr. David Yeager is the Raymond Dickson Centennial Professor of Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. He earned his Ph.D. from Stanford University. His groundbreaking research focuses on the processes that shape adolescent development, examining how social cognitive factors interact with structural and physiological elements to influence youth trajectories. Dr. Yeager is also dedicated to uncovering ways to positively impact these psychological processes to enhance developmental and educational outcomes for young people. As co-Principal Investigator of the National Study of Learning Mindsets, the Texas Mindset Initiative, and the Texas Behavioral Science and Policy Institute, Dr. Yeager is at the forefront of efforts to translate cutting-edge psychological research into practical strategies for educators and policymakers.
David is also the lead instructor in a new class on MasterClass: The Power of Mindset. In this class, David and Carol Dweck draw on the science of mindset to show how members can develop new skills, overcome stress and setbacks, and use a mentor mindset to optimize performance and change lives at work, at home, on the sports field, and in the classroom. The class is available now exclusively on MasterClass.
💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:
How the adolescent brain drives motivation and potential.
The Mentor Mindset: balancing high standards and support.
Why belonging, purpose, and respect fuel adolescent success.
The power of short interventions on resilience and achievement.
EdTech's role in youth motivation and AI's potential pitfalls.
✨ Episode Highlights:
[00:02:51] Dr. Yeager’s path from teaching to research leadership. [00:04:34] What the Mentor Mindset is and why it works. [00:08:46] How short interventions create long-term impact. [00:14:08] Understanding the adolescent brain and motivation. [00:17:35] The traits of great mentors: tough but supportive. [00:25:59] The power of role models and near-peer influences. [00:35:50] Addressing fear and fostering aspiration in youth. [00:41:40] AI’s role in motivating and supporting students. [00:45:26] A call for ethical AI in education technology.
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