16.05.2017

Flexible mind. A New Look on the psychology of development of adults and children

The book flexible consciousness reveals the idea of ​​the impact of internal beliefs on a person. The Flexible Mind book reveals how one simple thought—the idea of ​​yourself—determines a large part of your actions.

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Carol Dweck — About the Author

Carol Dweck is an American psychologist. She graduated from Barnard College in 1967 with a Ph.D. Dweck is widely recognized as one of the leading researchers in the field of personality psychology, social psychology and developmental psychology. She is long years She was Ransford Professor of Psychology at Columbia University. Today, Dweck is the Lewis and Virginia Eaton Foundation Professor of Psychology at Stanford University and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Flexible Mind - Book Review

Chapter 1. What are the settings

The belief that your qualities are carved in granite - fixed mindset- makes you need to assert yourself again and again. If you are given certain moral qualities, a certain individuality, a certain, strictly fixed amount of intelligence, then there is only one thing left: to prove that the amount of all this goodness is quite large. It is impossible to demonstrate or even feel the lack of such fundamental qualities.
The second attitude is based on the belief that your qualities, even the most basic ones, are quite amenable to cultivation if you put effort into it. And although people can differ literally in all "articles" - in their original talents and abilities, in interests, in temperament - thanks to the efforts and acquired knowledge, everyone is able to change and develop. it growth mindset.

Defining your own installation

Read each statement and decide if you agree with it in in general terms or disagree.
1. Your mental abilities are your fundamental quality, and you are not allowed to change anything significantly.
2. You can learn new knowledge, but you are not able to change your level of intelligence.
3. No matter what level of intelligence you have, you can always increase it significantly.
4. You can always get a lot smarter.

“Yes” to questions 1 and 2 will be answered by people with a fixed mindset. Yes to questions 3 and 4 reflect a growth mindset

Chapter 2. Installation: inside view

People with a growth mindset aren't just looking for opportunities to challenge themselves. Trials are fertile ground for them. And the greater the test, the more actively they develop. People with a growth mindset thrive when they develop themselves.

All people are born with a love of learning, but a fixed mindset can stifle that love in the cradle. Think back to a time when you were addicted to something - solving crossword puzzles, playing a sport, or learning a new dance. And then this occupation turned into a burden, and the hobby disappeared. Maybe you started to feel hungry, tired, or dizzy, or bored. The next time something like this happens, don't be fooled. It is the fixed mindset that speaks in you. Move on to a growth mindset. Imagine how new connections form in your brain as you face a challenge and learn new things. Do not stop.
There is always a great temptation to create for yourself a world in which you are perfection itself. (Ah, what a sweet feeling! I remember it from my high school days.) We can start choosing our partners, choosing our friends, and hiring people who will make us feel infallible. But think: don't you want to grow? The next time you are tempted to surround yourself with adepts, go to church. Better yet, look for constructive criticism.

Does your past life something that you think has stigmatized you? Like a failed exam? Some kind of betrayal? Getting fired from work? Or maybe your feelings were rejected? Focus on this event. Feel in yourself all the emotions that it aroused in you then. Now look at this event from a growth mindset perspective.

Take an honest look at your role in it and realize that it cannot be a measure of your intelligence or your personality. And just ask yourself: What lesson have I learned (or can I learn) from this experience? How can I use it as a base for growth? And may this thought always accompany you.

How do you act when you feel down? Are you starting to work more actively on problems or are you letting everything take its course? The next time you feel overwhelmed, adopt a growth mindset—think about learning, about challenging, about overcoming obstacles. Look at effort as a positive, constructive force, not a bore. Try it.

Is there something you've always wanted to do, but are afraid you can't do it? Include this in your plans for the near future.

Chapter 3

The author devotes this chapter to the question of what achievements actually consist of. The question is why some people achieve less than what was expected of them, while others, on the contrary, exceed expectations.

Fixed mindset limits the scope of achievements. It fills people's heads with conflicting thoughts, creates aversion to effort, and prevents them from learning more productive methods of acquiring knowledge. Moreover: it turns other people into our judges, not allies. And it doesn't matter who we are talking about - about Darwin or about an ordinary schoolchild: significant achievements always require full concentration, selfless efforts and flexible strategies and tactics. And still need allies in study. All this gives people a growth mindset. It contributes to the development of their talents and brings real results.

Growth mindset allows people - even those who are negatively labeled - to use and develop their brains in in full. Their heads are not filled with limiting thoughts, self-doubt, and the belief that other people can tell them where they belong.

Chapter 4

Think of a sport you'd like to play but always thought you couldn't do. How can you know this in advance without investing maximum effort in the matter? Some of the best athletes in the world weren't all that good at their discipline at first. If you dream of playing some kind of sport, try to invest in it and see the result.

Sometimes exceptional talent is a curse. Naturally gifted athletes can remain forever in the grip of the fixed mindset and never learn to overcome adversity. Maybe in some sport, everything was easy for you at first, until you reached the ceiling? Try to adopt the growth mindset and try it again.

Character - important quality in the world of sports, and it comes from a growth mindset. Think of those times when, during a difficult match, you had to squeeze the last of your strength out of yourself, and you didn’t even suspect that you had it. Think about the champions with the growth mindset mentioned in this chapter and how they dealt with challenges in similar situations. What can you do the next time you find yourself in a difficult situation to activate your growth mindset?

Athletes with a growth mindset see success in acquiring new knowledge and skills and in improving, not just in winning. The more firmly you adhere to this point of view, the more satisfaction you will receive from the sport - both you and those who are in the same bundle with you!

Chapter 5

What type of installation is typical for your company? Do you think that people around you only evaluate you or help you develop? You may be able to turn your job into a growth mindset if you start with yourself. Maybe instead of making excuses for mistakes, you could start looking for ways to overcome them? Perhaps you could benefit more from feedback on your work? Maybe you could find more sources of new experience and knowledge for yourself?
How do you treat colleagues? Perhaps you yourself are a boss with a fixed mindset, focused on your power more than the welfare of your subordinates? Maybe you yourself used to confirm your status by humiliating others? Have you ever clamped down on smart employees because you saw them as a threat?

Think about how you could help your employees develop and improve as they work. Maybe arrange an internship? Seminar? Training? And also think about how to start treating your subordinates as workmates, to see them as a team. Make a list of possible tactics and strategies of action and try them out. Do this even if you already consider yourself a leader with a growth mindset. Well-designed support and developmental evaluation are never redundant.

If you run a company, look at it through the lens of a setup. Maybe she needs her Lou Gerstner?

Think seriously about how you can eradicate elitism and create a culture of self-criticism, free communication, and teamwork. Read Lou Gerstner's excellent book Who Said Elephants Can't Dance? to learn how.

Do you have a work environment that encourages groupthink? If so, the whole decision-making process is in great danger. Create an environment to encourage alternative opinions and constructive criticism. Appoint special people who will play the role of "devil's advocate" and take a position opposite to yours, so that you can see the flaws in your ideas. Have people openly discuss various aspects of specific issues.

Start an anonymous suggestion box and make it a mandatory part of your decision-making process. Remember, people are perfectly capable of thinking independently and acting as a team at the same time. Help them realize both of these abilities

Chapter 6 Relationships: Attitude and Love (or Hate)

What do you feel when you are rejected - humiliation, resentment, desire for revenge? Or, despite the pain, do you hope to forgive the person, learn from what happened, and move on? Think of the most painful of these cases. Take stock of how you felt, and then try to look at the situation from a growth mindset perspective. What did that incident teach you? Did he help you better understand what you want from life, and what you don’t need for nothing? Maybe he taught you something positive that came in handy in subsequent relationships? Are you able to forgive that person and wish him happiness? Are you able to let go of resentment?

Imagine the perfect love connection. This means that between you there must be full compatibility in everything, right? No disagreements, no compromises, no efforts and sacrifices? Yes? Then please think again. In any relationship, there is friction. Try to look at them in terms of a growth mindset: problems can be a means of achieving better understanding and greater intimacy. Let your partner voice their grievances. Listen carefully and discuss patiently and kindly. You will be surprised how much closer to each other you will become after this.

Perhaps you, like me, often succumb to the urge to shift the blame onto someone else. The desire to hang everything on a partner does not contribute to strengthening relationships. Create your own Maurice and let him take the rap for everything. But it will still be better if you try to get rid of the need to look for someone to blame. Stop thinking about mistakes and mistakes all the time, step over them. Remember how I tried to learn this myself.

You're shy? Then you really need a growth mindset. Even if she doesn't get rid of your shyness, she won't let her warp your social contacts. The next time you find yourself on the threshold of a new social situation, think about how communication skills can be improved and what social interaction exists so that you learn and enjoy, and not be the object of evaluation and condemnation. And keep practicing it.

Chapter 7. Parents, teachers and coaches: how are attitudes formed?

Every word and action of the parent sends a signal to the child. Tomorrow, listen carefully to what you will say to your children and catch the messages in your words. What information do they carry? That the qualities of the child are unchanged and you evaluate them? Or that he is a developing person and you are interested in his development?

How do you use praise? Remember that by praising a child's intelligence or talent, you are imposing a fixed mindset on him. Don't do it, no matter how great the temptation. Praise weakens and undermines a child's self-esteem and motivation. Instead, try to focus on the process of his actions - on the tactics that the child uses to achieve some goals, on his efforts or on his choices. Practice and you will get used to your interaction with your child to praise him for the process of moving towards success.

Watch your child and listen to what he says when he does something wrong. Remember: constructive criticism is the type feedback which will help the child understand how to correct the consequences of what they have done. It's not about labeling or just finding an apology. At the end of each day, write down the constructive criticism (and praise for the process) that you have given your child.

Parents often set goals for their children to achieve. Don't forget that innate talent cannot be the goal. But the development of skills and the acquisition of knowledge - can. Treat the goals that you set for your child with special attention.

If you are a teacher, remember that lowering standards does not raise student self-esteem. Just as raising standards does not raise it, if at the same time we do not give students a methodology for achieving a level corresponding to these standards. The growth mindset gives you the ability to set high standards while helping students achieve them. Try to serve educational material so that it contributes to the development of students, and at the same time provide them with information about how the process of progress is going. I think you will like the result.

What do you think about your students who learn material more slowly than others? That they will never be able to study well? And what do they think of themselves? That they are stupid and will remain so? Try to figure out what exactly they do not understand and what methods of assimilating new knowledge they do not have. Remember: all great teachers believe that talent and intelligence can be developed, and they themselves are passionate about the learning process.
Are you a trainer with a fixed mindset? Do you think first of all about your records and reputation and do not tolerate mistakes? And try to motivate your players with your harsh sentence? Maybe that's why your athletes can't open up to their full potential?
Try switching to a growth mindset. Instead of asking them to play flawlessly, ask them for their full dedication and maximum effort. Instead of judging them, give them the respect and guidance they need to develop.

As parents, teachers and coaches, we have an important mission: to develop the potential of people. Let's apply the lessons of the growth mindset - and everything else we can - to fulfill this mission.

Greetings to all. With you Ekaterina Kalmykova. Have you ever thought about your abilities? Did you have a question: full power do you use them or not? If not, how can you use your abilities to the fullest? What do you think, is it possible to improve your abilities or are they unchanged?

If you are interested in getting answers to these questions, then welcome to read this article.

To develop abilities (intelligence, talent) is within the power of every person, you just need, firstly, to have a desire, and secondly, to change your thinking.

Renowned psychologist Carol Dweck (Professor of Psychology at Stanford University) long time studied and researched two types of people's mindset - "fixed mindset" and "growth mindset".

She presented the results of her work and experiments in the book " Flexible mind. A new look at the psychology of development of adults and children". I have read it several times and each time I find something new. And in general, my opinion is that a person who wants to achieve something in this life should read it at least once.

In this book, you will learn how the fixed mindset sets people up for failure, while the growth mindset opens the way to self-realization, building a successful career, and building happy relationships with others at any age. And also - how can you instill such an attitude in yourself and others.

"Flexible Consciousness" by Carol Dweck is a very useful book, as it helps to look at yourself as if from the outside, conduct introspection and analysis of the people around you, identify problem points and find ways to solve them. Thanks to the information from the book, you will have the opportunity to improve your attitude to life, to people, and, first of all, to yourself. You will realize the power of faith in yourself, understand how great its significance is in all the changes that take place in your life, whether good or not.

Now let's take a closer look at the types of thinking. K. Dweck identifies two types of them.

Fixed mindset This is static thinking. It implies that our character and abilities are static, unchanging and given to us at birth. The success of people with this kind of thinking depends on mother nature, on genes. If a person has certain abilities, then he uses them. If not, then no, such is his heredity and fate.

People with this type of thinking try to achieve their goals in order to prove to themselves that they are something. Each time they admire, observe themselves from the sidelines and answer the question “How am I? Do I look smart in this situation?”. That is, f fixed thinking strives for self-affirmation.

If the planned goal is not achieved this category people get upset, their self-esteem drops, and this situation as a whole negatively affects them. If successful, it is considered another proof of a person's talent and abilities.

growth mindset is thinking dynamic view. It implies that character, talent and abilities can be “grown” in oneself, developed by making certain efforts. If you are not endowed with the desired abilities by nature, you can achieve them by doing, for example, training. If something does not work out, a problem arises, then the person does not calm down, but moves on, applying all his strength to achieve the desired results.

In case of defeat, he does not get upset, but on the contrary, he regards all mistakes and failures as teaching moments, from which he draws instructive conclusions for himself. Success encourages a person to study further and learn more about their abilities and abilities.

A person with a growth mindset understands that his character and abilities are not static. They believe that it is impossible to evaluate and recognize the full potential of a person, to measure all his abilities. There is always room for improvement and development. The growth mindset seeks to learn.

The type of thinking is laid down in a person in childhood. And from what type of thinking he will belong depends on his life, his work, his environment, his attitude. Believing in ability development helps transform a fixed mindset into a growth mindset.

Carol Dweck did an interesting experiment with children while doing her research. They were offered lungs and challenging puzzles. Children who had already developed a fixed mindset chose easy puzzles and solved them repeatedly, over and over again, thereby proving to themselves that they were quick-witted and smart.

Children with a growth mindset wondered why they were solving the same puzzles, because it was not interesting. They tried to solve difficult riddles.

If these observations are projected onto the adult world, we will see a similar picture. Most perform the same functions at work day after day, not wanting to see anything new. To try to change yourself, read book and it will make you try and look at yourself with different eyes.

K. Dweck conducted a study of this topic and here is one of her conclusions:

“The vision you choose for yourself has a direct impact on how you spend your life. If you believe that you have a static level of intelligence, one character for life and one unchanging personality, you will manifest the same qualities over and over again.

And one more:

“People with a fixed mind are only interested in the reaction to their actions, and not in the information itself. If, for example, they answer a question incorrectly, they are often not interested in the correct answer. People with a growth mindset, on the other hand, always listen to the right answer, because they are interested in learning, in expanding the boundaries of their knowledge.

And in conclusion, I would like to note that no matter what type of thinking you belong to, you have the opportunity to influence and change it.

A digital version of this book is available for purchase. HERE.

It is better not to waste time on yet another proof of your superiority, but to spend it on self-development.

It's better to surround yourself with people who don't delight you, but who help you grow.

It is better not to do the same thing every time, but to use new ways to solve problems.

The most basic condition for a growth mindset is believing in yourself. Everything depends only on you, and not on nature or hereditary data.

Everything is in your hands - go for it! And if you lack motivation, then read here.

What type of thinking are you? Do you have a desire to change it?

Ekaterina Kalmykova

Flexible mind. A new look at the psychology of development of adults and children Carol Dweck

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Title: Flexible mind. A new look at the psychology of development of adults and children

About the book “Flexible Consciousness. A New Perspective on Developmental Psychology in Adults and Children by Carol Dweck

The world-famous psychologist Carol Dweck, who has been studying the problems of success and achievement for decades, discovered and scientifically proved the influence internal installations on personality. In this book, you will learn how the fixed mindset sets people up for failure, while the growth mindset opens the way to self-realization, building a successful career, and building happy relationships with others at any age. And also - how can you instill such an attitude in yourself and others.
The book will be of interest not only to parents, teachers and coaches, but also to anyone involved in managing people or aiming at personal growth.

On our site about books, you can download the site for free without registration or read online book“Flexible mind. A new look at the developmental psychology of adults and children" by Carol Dweck in epub, fb2, txt, rtf, pdf formats for iPad, iPhone, Android and Kindle. The book will give you a lot of pleasant moments and a real pleasure to read. Buy full version you can have our partner. Also, here you will find the latest news from the literary world, learn the biography of your favorite authors. For novice writers, there is a separate section with useful tips and recommendations, interesting articles, thanks to which you yourself can try your hand at writing.

Quotes from the book “Flexible Consciousness. A New Perspective on Developmental Psychology in Adults and Children by Carol Dweck

It is clear that people with a growth mindset thrive when they develop themselves. When do people with a fixed mindset thrive? When they are safe, that is, when they have everything under control. When tasks become too difficult and these people no longer feel smart and talented, they lose interest in the matter.
When people believe that their fundamental qualities are cultivable, failure can also hurt them, but not kill them. And if change and growth are possible, then the path to success is always open.

It is not so important what abilities you are endowed with - after all, it is efforts that turn them into achievements.

For people with a fixed mindset, failure is a stigma forever.

The bottom line is that praising children's intelligence undermines their motivation and lowers their performance.

Character is what allows you to reach the top and stay there at the top.

Failure can be painful for people with a growth mindset, too. But it does not put an indelible mark on a person. Failure is a problem that you face, work on, and learn from.

Each person has his own role model, someone who showed him the right path at a turning point in his life.

And the lesson Welch learned is that true self-confidence is “the courage to be open to change and new ideas, no matter where they come from.”262 True self-confidence is not expressed in titles, expensive suits, fancy cars or big acquisitions. It is expressed in the installation, in your readiness for development.

Genre:

Description of the book: This book is written by a talented psychologist with a worldwide reputation. She has been a researcher in the field of psychology for many years. She tried to devote more time to the problem of achieving success. She proved the influence of internal attitudes on the human personality. This book is a real masterpiece because it will help you understand what a fixed and growth mindset can lead to. She was able to detail the most in simple words Explain why people with a growth mindset are so successful. And those who take everything for granted achieve nothing.

In these days of active fight against piracy, most of the books in our library have only brief fragments for review, including the book Flexible Mind. A new look at the psychology of development of adults and children. Thanks to this, you can understand whether you like this book and whether you should buy it in the future. Thus, you support the work of the writer Carol Dweck by legally purchasing the book in case you liked its summary.

Carol Dweck

Flexible mind. A new look at the psychology of development of adults and children

Introduction

One fine day, the students sat me down at the table and literally ordered me to write this book. They wanted other people to be able to take advantage of our discoveries and make their lives better. I have been planning to take up a pen for a long time, but only now this work has become my priority.

My book continues the tradition in psychology, revealing the idea of ​​the impact of internal beliefs on a person. We may or may not be aware of our beliefs, but they have a huge impact on what we want and how successful we are at achieving it. Changing beliefs, even the simplest ones, can have far-reaching consequences.

In this book, you'll learn how one simple thought - your self-image - determines a large part of your actions. Strictly speaking, this representation is associated each your step. And the way you see and evaluate yourself, and the fact that it does not allow you to fully realize your potential, is dictated by your inner attitude.

No book has so far talked about attitudes or shown how they can be used in life. Now you will suddenly understand the psychology of great people - great in science and art, in sports and in business - as well as those who only showed great promise. You will understand your colleagues, your boss, your friends, your children. You will understand how to release the potential - both yours and your child's.

At the end of each chapter, as well as in the last part of the book, you will find specific recommendations on how to apply what you have learned in practice: how to determine what mindset controls your life and understand how it works and how you can change it if you wish.

My work is dedicated to the topic personal growth. She helped me accelerate my own development. Hope it helps you too.

Carol Dweck

Chapter 1. What are the settings

When I was a young aspiring scientist, an event occurred that changed my whole life.

I was passionate about understanding how people deal with their failures. And I began to study this 1 , watching how junior schoolchildren solve difficult problems. So, I invited the little ones one by one to a separate room, asked them to make themselves comfortable, and when they relaxed, I gave them a series of puzzles to solve. The first tasks were quite simple, but then they became more and more difficult. And while the students puffed and sweated, I watched their actions and reactions. I assumed that children would behave differently when trying to cope with difficulties, but I saw something completely unexpected.

Faced with more serious tasks, one ten-year-old boy pulled a chair closer to the table, rubbed his hands, licked his lips and declared: “I love difficult problems!” Another boy, having sweated a lot over the puzzle, raised his pleased face and concluded weightily: “You know, I’m on it and hoped- which will be informative!

“But what is the matter with them?” I couldn't understand. It never occurred to me that failures could like. Are these kids aliens? Or do they know something?

Each person has his own role model, someone who showed him the right path at a turning point in his life. For me, these children have become a model. Obviously, they knew something that was unknown to me, and I decided to find out: what is the essence of the installation that can turn difficulties into a gift?

What is it they knew? Apparently, the fact that human abilities, such as intellectual skills, can be honed with effort. And that's what they were doing - getting smarter. Failure did not discourage them at all - it didn't even occur to them that they were losing. They thought they were just learning.

I thought that abilities were given to a person once and for all. Either you're smart or you're not, and if you failed once, it means you're not smart. Everything is simple. As long as you manage to achieve success and avoid failure (at all costs), you remain among the smart ones. Attempts, mistakes, efforts in this "game" do not count.