Analysis Of Carol Dweck´s The Secret To Raising Smart Kids

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When people often think of geniuses, people like Albert Einstein, Charles Darwin, Wolfgang Mozart, and Ludwig van Beethoven are often cited. Yet what in particular makes these people geniuses? Were they born with high intelligence, or were they given better opportunities? The answer is neither. People who are thought of as possessing high intelligence are the result of years of hard work and dedication, not just pure skill. A great deal of effort was put into their work, and because of their effort their work was successful. In Carol Dweck’s article, The Secret to Raising Smart Kids, she argues that focusing on developing a “growth mind-set” helps students become high achievers. By students restructuring their mind-set, they could have the same mind-set and work ethic as a genius such as Einstein. …show more content…

Helpless students believe that intelligence is fixed, and that there is only a certain amount. Dweck categorizes these students as having a “fixed mind-set.” These students are more likely to avoid challenges because if they make more mistakes they think they will look less smart.
On the other hand, there are mastery-oriented children. These children believe that intelligence is flexible, and can be learned through education and hard work, thus having a “growth mind-set.” They enjoy challenges, as they pose an opportunity to learn. Dweck hypothesized that students with a growth mind-set were more likely to have better success in academics, and out compete the fixed-mind set

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