Assumptions About Intelligence And The Impact Of A Growth Mindset On Studies And Employment

1. Describe the assumptions you hold about your ‘intelligence’ and how they may or may not have changed over time.

2. Use theory related to a ‘growth mindset’ and ‘grit’ in combination with aspects of your personal experience to illustrate the impact of the above assumptions on your studies to date.

3. Use theory related to a ‘growth mindset’ and ‘grit’ in combination with aspects of your personal experience to speculate on the practical and theoretical implications of your current assumptions for your study over the coming semester.

4. Use theory related to a ‘growth mindset’ and ‘grit’ in combination with aspects of your personal experience to speculate on the practical and theoretical implications of your current assumptions for your current or future employment.

The Two Types of Mindset

According to the study, there are two stages that affect the mindset of people. These aspects are performance goals or learning goals. The one that focuses on the performance goals concentrates over the looks and to be act smart and they do not have the tendency to take challenges and face it to learn more (Jaksch, 2017). The person that focuses on learning goals are creative enough and they find the informative part more interesting and are curious to learn new things and accept challenges to turn out opportunities into success. This research regarding the student mind set is conducted by Dr. Dweck. As per my assumptions initially at an early stage of my life, I use to hold the fixed mind set but gradually as maturity was gained my mind set turn around towards growth mind set (Walton, 2014). In early stages, during school times my focus was on looking smart but yet I like to catch up challenges to prove myself. This could be stated as a mixed mind set. When I was teenager difficult situations was a cause of worry to me and I use to give up at that point of time instead of facing it and if a mistake is at my part I do not possess the courage to accept it (Matt, 2017). For instance, there occur situations where I got punished but the exact fault was not mine but efforts from my side were not made to prove the situation and clarify to people the truth because of fear to get scolded by teachers and parents. As I grew older I gained the courage to face the adverse situations and prove my point if my part is correct and accept the mistake if wrong has been done and not to repeat those actions in future (Mind set works, 2017).

According to the theory of ‘growth mind set’ given by Carol Dweck, it focuses on building up the mind through better learning and influencing creativity. The study was conducted to know about the mindset that students carry and how it varies from time to time at different stages of life. As per my experience at the initial stage, the students are frightened and less courageous to rise up the voice. Many a time it happens that student lacks the interest to learn. They simply sit blankly in the class and never come up with the doubt (RNELSONO, 2014). But as the age grew and the person starts to gain the majority they understand the real world and crave to understand the meaning of life. Students at high school and graduate level are more careers conscious and they are mature enough to understand the scenario and analyze the growing competition. They find the opportunities and accept challenges in life to prove themselves. It is correct that growth mind set cannot be always used. No one exactly contains the growth mindset, every person persists the dual aspect of mind (Mindset kit, 2015). For example: at the school level maths was the subject that is disliked by the majority of students and I was the one candidate out of all. As soon as the grades and classes increased the value and practical things were introduced. Those topics like algebra, which were clear in mind, were very interesting and I prefer to learn more about those topics and the other topic like trigonometry was still a challenge for me and I use to escape from it and ignore learning it which was a fixed learning approach. Similarly, in writing and literature, those topics which were related to the real world and opinion based essay were easy for me to read and write about it as versatile knowledge is gained and the practical touch always grabs the attention rather than just the bookish language which are virtual in nature. Also, there is a misconception that prevails and it is more the efforts more are the chances of winning. With the growth mind set efforts are surely needed but it is not the only thing that is required. Along with efforts certain creativity, improvisation, adaptability to changes and new strategies are also needed to ensure growth. Simply efforts do not always pay. It is a general tendency with students which even happened with me that after incorporating so many efforts in exam and studies still, the grades were not according to the hard work. The reason behind that is with hard work smart work is needed, studies were efficiently made but the presentation of learning during the exams matters a lot and if the appropriate presentation and diagrammatic pictures are not delivered it do not attract the examiner and marks get curbed at that point. Thus, this situation proves the point of growth mind set with efforts and strategies pays out the best (Dweck, 2015).

The Theory of Growth Mindset

The theory of growth mindset is very useful in the completion of my semester. A growth mindset is a positive portion that helps the person to analyze the situation and learn from it. At initial students get anxious upon the circumstances but slowly the growth mind set strikes and courage is gained. In order to complete my semester initially, I would focus on the subjects that I don’t like the most and will make writing practice of it.  This is the challenge that is dealt with to improve the weak area first. Afterwards, the focus will be on the strong and favorite part. Also in order to excel and stay positive inner motivation is highly required (Examined existence, 2017). For gaining success in the coming semester and in the upcoming moments in life self-preparation is always necessary. The inner voice is much strong than anything or any other attributing. The inner voice is the confidence that one holds the person. To study in current semester another objective is to make my family happy and become a role model for my children. Along with working, studies also continue which will portray a healthy image in the mind of my children and they will learn from me to handle both things single handily. At times their strikes, the fixed mind set upon the things never done before. The critic stops to take the challenges and ignorance over the things happen, but gradually the people learn about things and create a positive mind set. Learning expands the mind set and welcome new strategies by converting the fixed mindset into the growth one (Popova, 2014).  I shall learn about the new things and gain information to develop a distinct mind set. The growth mind set not only helps me in clearing out the semester but will help in building up the future as well. It will prepare to face the challenges of life and handle the professionalism along with the studies. I might be able to set a positive image in front of my children and society which may influence them to follow the growth mindset to develop and achieve success in life. But entire growth mind set also does not work at all a small portion of a fixed mindset is also required at certain places where the question is upon the values and norms there rigidity has to be maintained else the outer world would change the belief. But entire fixed mind set will not let me clear the coming semester as I may not accept the new challenges and ignore the criticism if any which would curb my learning and seek information thereby the growth will get restricted (Collins, 2017).

Applying the Growth Mindset to Studies

In case of current employment, I need to carry growth mind set in order to gain the high position in the organization. Along with growth mind set, grit and resilience are also been used. Grit is the long term goal that if used in the employment to perform better and stay back for a longer period and gain experience. Many times it happens that even while putting lots of effort the desired result is not gained, it is because the self-motivation is required which inspires oneself and passion have to be followed to attract others towards your activity and learn the points of success (Hochanadel & Finamore, 2015). Resilience is the ability to face the adverse situation and fight back with it. It is observed in the situation where the person is knocked down in life but still holds back the energy to make a comeback with more zeal and defeat the self-discouragement. Resilience is the optimistic approach and the best situation to learn new tact’s and tricks because failures are the best teacher which teaches the lesson of life. Growth mind set works here that even after failure you come up with the positive approach and pertains self-motivation for a long run in the future employment. Using the growth mind set development could be ensured in the current and future employment. For that first of all belief in yourself and encourage the self for upcoming challenges. Focus on the goals and do not divert the mind. Stays connected with people and share your views and listen to their experience as well. There are chances that one can learn from the mistakes of other as well because they have gone through the difficult situation and thus know how to handle the particular circumstances. Improve the interpersonal skills and increase the confidence to crack the arising opportunities (Rose, 2009). The growth of the person could be ensured if teacher and parents wisely use the language. Teachers should deliver the positive lecture and motivate them to accept challenges and take part in the quiz, conference or any other activity that enhances the knowledge of a person. Also, parents must choose wisely and correct words instead of demotivating words. They must support their child so that he should give a try to the adverse situation and do not fear from it whenever it occurs (Mindset max, 2016). This will help in building up the growth mind set. Also, students must adopt the flexible thinking because the market scenario is ever changing and after studies when employment is offered there the person has to face various challenges as the entire corporate and practical scenario will be there and rigidity in principles won’t work in all situations. Initially set up the small goals and step by step move ahead. When short term goals are accomplished it will automatically lead to the achievement of the bigger goal. As it is rightly said, slow and steady wins the race (Positive psychology program, 2016).

References

Collins. J., 2017, How to foster talent through a growth mindset and grit, viewed on 6^th September 2017, <https://blog.bonus.ly/how-to-foster-talent-through-a-growth-mindset-and-grit>.

Dweck. C., 2015, Carol Dweck revisits the ‘growth mindset’, viewed on 6^th September 2017, <https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2015/09/23/carol-dweck-revisits-the-growth-mindset.html>.

Examined existence, 2017, growth mindset versus fixed mindset, viewed on 6^th September 2017, <https://examinedexistence.com/carol-dweck-on-fixed-mindset-vs-growth-mindset/>.

Guido. M., 2016, 10 ways teachers can instill a growth mindset in students, viewed on 6^th September 2017, <https://www.prodigygame.com/blog/growth-mindset-in-students/>.

Hochanadel, A. and Finamore, D., 2015. Fixed and growth mindset in education and how grit helps students persist in the face of adversity. Journal of International Education Research, 11(1), p.47.

Jaksch. M., 2017, 9 ways to develop your intelligence at any age, <https://goodlifezen.com/9-ways-to-develop-your-intelligence-at-any-age/>.

Matt. N. B., 2017, Choice and growth mindset, viewed on 6^th September 2017, <https://sophia.stkate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1222&context=maed>.

Mindset kit, 2015, What is growth mindset? Viewed on 6^th September 2017, <https://www.mindsetkit.org/topics/about-growth-mindset/what-is-growth-mindset>.

Mindset max, 2016, Growth mindset examples from everyday situations, viewed on 6^th September 2017, <https://mindsetmax.com/growth-mindset-examples-everyday-situations-create-opportunity-learning-progress/>.

Mindset Works, 2014, Why do mindset matter? Viewed on 6^th September 2017, <https://www.mindsetworks.com/science/Impact>.

Popova. M., 2014, Fixed vs. growth: the two basic mindsets that shape our lives, viewed on 6^th September 2017, <https://www.brainpickings.org/2014/01/29/carol-dweck-mindset/>. 

RNELSONO, 2014, Questioning assumptions with intelligence, viewed on 6^th September 2017, <https://rnelson0.com/2014/11/21/questioning-assumptions-with-intelligence/>.

Rose, M., 2009. Blue-Collar Brilliance: Questioning assumptions about intelligence, work, and social class. The American Scholar, 78(3), pp.43-49.

Walton. A. G., 2014, 7 Assumptions smart people never make, viewed on 6^th September 2017, <https://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2014/01/24/7-bad-habits-assumptions-that-successful-people/#6ed790ff44f5>.