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April 24, 2007

Book Recommendation: MINDSET by Carol Dweck

Bitsy Rice sent me an email about a new book entitled MINDSET, The new psychology of success by Carol S. Dweck.  I bought the book and I am in my second reading of it.

 

Dr. Dweck was the William B. Ransford Professor of Psychology at Columbia University and is currently the Lewis and Virginia Eaton Professor of Psychology at Stanford University.

 

I wanted to share some of the thoughts from MINDSET:

 

Dr. Dweck talks about two mindsets. 

 

“For 20 years, my research has shown that the view you adopt for yourself profoundly affects the way you lead your life.  If can determine whether you become the person you want to be and whether you accomplish the things you value.  How does this happen?  How can a simple belief have the power to transform your psychology and, as a result,

your life?

 

Believing that your qualities are carved in stone—the fixed mindset—creates an urgency to prove yourself over and over.  If you have only a certain amount of intelligence, a certain personality, and a certain moral character—well, then you’d better prove that you have a healthy dose of them.  It simply wouldn’t do to look or feel deficient in these most basic characteristics.”

 

“There’s another mindset in which these traits are not simply a hand you’re dealt and have to live with, always trying to convince yourself and others that you have a royal flush when you’re secretly worried it’s a pair of tens.  In this mindset, the hand you’re dealt is just the starting point for development.  This growth mindset is based on the belief that your basic qualities are things you can cultivate through your efforts.  Although people may differ in every which way—in their initial talents and aptitudes, interests or temperaments—everyone can change and grow through application and experience.”

 

“…as you begin to understand the fixed and growth mindsets, you will see exactly on one thing leads to another—how a belief that your qualities are carved in stone leads to a host of thoughts and actions, and how a belief that your qualities can be cultivated leads to a host of different thoughts and actions, taking you down an entirely different road.  It’s what psychologists call an “Aha” experience.  Not only have I seen this in my research when we teach people a new mindset, but I get letters all the time from people who have read my work.”

 

Some findings regarding participation in sport that Dr. Dweck’s research shows:

 

“Those with the growth mindset found success in doing their best, in learning and improving.”

 

Those with the growth mindset found setbacks motivating.  They’re informative.  They’re a walk-up call.”

 

“People with the growth mindset in sports took charge of the processes that bring success—and that maintain it.”

 

Dr. Dweck also has sections in this book about mind set in Business, in Relationships and for parents, teachers and coaches.

 

I found this to be a very good book for those that work with or have children and recommend it to you.

Posted by Jack Newman at April 24, 2007 9:04 AM