Mindset is understood to exist on a continuum rather than as a fixed state established in early childhood. Both fixed and growth mindsets coexist within individuals and can shift in response to specific situations and interactions. The mindset a person exhibits is influenced by environmental factors, particularly nonverbal behaviors from those around them. Research shows that parents' actions—such as their reactions to a child's struggles—are more predictive of the child's persistence and mindset than the parents' own beliefs. For instance, if a parent displays concern or intervenes during a child's challenge, it negatively influences the child's willingness to persist in problem-solving. This suggests that behaviors and interactions play a crucial role in shaping mindset dynamically and moment by moment. Thus, while individuals may have a baseline mindset set point, interactions with others can cause significant fluctuations along the mindset continuum, affecting overall learning and development.
#508: Recently I chatted with Stanford researcher Dr. Mary Murphy, a renowned expert in the field of psychological and brain sciences.
Dr. Murphy, who is a Professor at Indiana University and conducts research at Stanford University, shared insights into the concepts of fixed mindset and growth mindset.
We deep dived into her extensive research on how these mindsets impact motivation, performance, and relationships at work and home.
She conducted research alongside legendary psychologist Dr. Carol Dweck, who created the original studies around fixed vs. growth mindset.
If you’ve ever read about fixed vs. growth mindset in the past, you’ve undoubtedly heard of Carol Dweck, who is legendary in the space. Dr. Dweck mentored Dr. Murphy at Stanford, the university from which Dr. Murphy received her Ph.D.
Dr. Murphy's insights can help you cultivate a growth mindset to overcome challenges and achieve your goals.
If you want to improve your performance — at work, at home, at the gym, as a world traveler, as an investor, or in any other domain — understanding the research behind mindset is critical.
Enjoy!
For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode508
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