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Growth mindset, as defined by Dr. David Yeager, is the belief that abilities can change under the right conditions, not simply a matter of trying hard. Studies have shown that instilling a growth mindset can lead to significant improvements in performance over time, such as increased grades and participation in advanced courses. Combined with the stress can be performance enhancing mindset, individuals can reframe stress as a positive motivator for growth.
Feedback that combines high standards with high support can be more effective in motivating individuals to implement critical feedback. This approach, known as wise feedback, involves emphasizing the importance of meeting high standards while assuring individuals that with support, they can reach those standards. Implementing a mentor mindset, which includes maintaining high standards and providing support, can create an environment where individuals feel believed in and motivated to grow.
The mentors dilemma, as explored by Jeff Cohen and Claude Steele, highlights the challenge of balancing criticism with motivation for growth. By appealing to high standards along with assurances of support, leaders can effectively convey the belief in an individual's capacity to meet those standards. Adopting a mentor mindset involves maintaining high expectations while also fostering a supportive environment to promote growth.
Human striving for growth and learning is deeply rooted in the brain's pursuit of change and improvement. Adolescence marks a pivotal period where one's criteria for success and well-being shift towards social standing and contribution. Evolutionarily, the need for social acceptance and inclusion reflects a survival strategy, as isolation from the community could lead to dire consequences. This drive for growth and adaptation is integral to human development and success.
Social hierarchy plays a significant role in the development of adolescents, especially during puberty. Adolescents often focus on their social status as a means of feeling valued and socially accepted within their peer groups. The implicit rules of the social hierarchy can be challenging to navigate, leading teenagers to overanalyze their social standing relative to others. This process is influenced by changes in the brain, specifically the dopaminergic system, which is partly driven by the maturation process.
Testosterone plays a crucial role in driving obsessive practice to demonstrate status and mate value, especially during adolescence. This drive for improvement is not limited to males, as females also exhibit similar behavior when striving to master a skill or compete in various domains. Studies show that the increase in testosterone levels is equally predictive of neural reactivity during risk-taking tasks in both boys and girls, emphasizing the importance of hormonal influences on social learning.
The concept of growth mindset, believing that traits can be developed and improved, influences various aspects of life such as intelligence, personality, social relationships, and emotions. While there is an overall association between different growth mindsets, domain-specific mindsets exist where individuals may believe in growth in some areas but not others. The effectiveness of growth mindset interventions varies based on the domain being targeted, with closer alignment leading to better outcomes.
Encouraging a contribution mindset, where individuals focus on making meaningful contributions to others and society, can enhance motivation and satisfaction in striving towards goals. By connecting personal goals to broader impacts and service to others, individuals can find greater fulfillment in their efforts, leading to deeper learning, persistence, and positive outcomes. The combination of self-interest and prosocial orientation creates a balanced approach that motivates individuals to excel and make a difference in both their personal and societal spheres.
Critiquing scientific work plays a crucial role in identifying and rectifying errors and ensuring integrity within the field. Individuals who dedicate themselves to meticulously scrutinizing data sets and research findings, such as the case of detecting data duplication in scientific papers, serve as essential gatekeepers. While there may be a short-term incentive for online criticism, it is vital to distinguish constructive critique like data evaluation from unproductive cynicism. Maintaining a culture of growth, as exemplified in certain scientific labs, fosters a supportive yet demanding environment where criticism leads to growth and improvement.
Achieving success in various fields often hinges on factors like motivation and drive rather than standardized test scores or prior experiences. Cultivating a growth-oriented mindset allows individuals to acknowledge and learn from mistakes without fear of judgment, fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Strategies such as mentorship and inclusive admission criteria, as seen in physics programs focusing on motivation and resilience, have shown remarkable success in promoting diversity and excellence in academic pursuits.
In this episode, my guest is Dr. David Yeager, Ph.D., professor of psychology at the University of Texas, Austin, and the author of the forthcoming book "10 to 25." We discuss how people of any age can use growth mindset and stress-is-enhancing mindsets to improve motivation and performance.
We explain the best mindset for mentors and being mentored and how great leaders motivate others with high standards and support. We also discuss why a sense of purpose is essential to goal pursuit and achievement.
Whether you are a parent, teacher, boss, coach, student or someone wanting to improve a skill or overcome a particular challenge, this episode provides an essential framework for adopting performance-enhancing mindsets leading to success.
For show notes, including referenced articles, additional resources and people mentioned, please visit hubermanlab.com.
Use Ask Huberman Lab, our new AI-powered platform, for a summary, clips, and insights from this episode.
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(00:00:00) Dr. David Yeager
(00:01:49) Sponsors: AeroPress & ROKA
(00:04:20) Growth Mindset; Performance, Self-Esteem
(00:10:31) “Wise” Intervention, Teaching Growth Mindset
(00:15:12) Stories & Writing Exercises
(00:19:42) Effort Beliefs, Physiologic Stress Response
(00:24:44) Stress-Is-Enhancing vs Stress-Is-Debilitating Mindsets
(00:29:28) Sponsor: AG1
(00:30:58) Language & Importance, Stressor vs. Stress Response
(00:37:54) Physiologic Cues, Threat vs Challenge Response
(00:44:35) Mentor Mindset & Leadership; Protector vs Enforcer Mindset
(00:53:58) Sponsor: Waking Up
(00:55:14) Strivings, Social Hierarchy & Adolescence, Testosterone
(01:06:28) Growth Mindset & Transferability, Defensiveness
(01:11:36) Challenge, Environment & Growth Mindset
(01:19:08) Goal Pursuit, Brain Development & Adaptation
(01:24:54) Emotions; Loss vs. Gain & Motivation
(01:32:28) Skill Building & Challenge, Purpose Motivation
(01:39:59) Contribution Value, Scientific Work & Scrutiny
(01:50:01) Self-Interest, Contribution Mindset
(01:58:05) Criticism, Negative Workplaces vs. Growth Culture
(02:06:51) Critique & Support; Motivation; Standardized Tests
(02:16:40) Mindset Research
(02:23:53) Zero-Cost Support, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, YouTube Feedback, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter
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