A mindset is an individual’s perception on their ability and qualities such as; our intelligence and creativity. As a class we watched a YouTube video introducing us to fixed and growth mindsets. Within the video we learned the two different aspects on what people are like who are a fixed mindset and for others who are a growth mindset. There are different ways at looking at the two different types of thinking. However, after reviewing the YouTube video, and taking notes, a fixed mindset is more the negative way of thinking and growth is the positive.
If you are person who experience a fixed mindset you have distinctive ways of thinking that make you this way. The main objective to people who have a fixed mindset is they want validation. They believe as a person they have no control over their abilities. The skills you currently have you are born with and they can’t change. This type of person tries to prove themselves, but is very sensitive to mistakes. When engaging in work they focus on the results instead of progress. People with a fixed mindset are known to do this because they don’t want to look bad. They view having to put effort into their work as a negative. If they have to put effort in it must mean they are bad at what they do. Many even avoid all challenges; they don’t want to face the process of possible feedback. Instead of taking feedback as a way to improve for future assignments, they take in personal. They interpret feedback in this negative way because they see their mistakes as a threat rather than taking it for improvement. As a result, a person with a fixed mindset, may lack confidence and may always feel anxious or stressed when it comes to criticism. Now for the growth mindset, it is about achieving proficiency. A person may take these aspects and apply them in a positive way. The way growth mindset works is that they think that you have control over your own abilities, and these abilities can be learned or developed over time. Growth mindset thinkers start by working through challenges. They view their personal mistakes as feedback on how to get better, and not as a judgment or a personal attack. A person with this way of thinking is eager to learn because they want to improve, and they are not sensitive to criticism or afraid of their mistakes. Many research has shown that teachers now can start changing the way students think to more of a growth mindset, by just the way they approach students outcomes.
After, watching the YouTube video in class a specific situation popped in my head where I can specifically point out where I fall between fixed and growth mindset. Two weeks ago or so, we had an assignment to write a reflective essay on the play, The Bacchae by Euripides and what the writer Percival Everett did to the play in his version, Frenzy. Coming into this class I had the confidence that I was a skilled writer. I specifically choose English as my concentration, because I succeeded so well in my high school English and all essays in every subject. Coming into this first college essay, I was unsure at first, because I did not have full understanding of the plays we read, however; I did have confidence in my writing skills, so I knew it was going to be okay. After, getting my rough draft back I began to have doubts, and this is where I showed aspects between fixed and growth mindset from my reaction. I believe I have aspects from both types of mindsets. I go through a process of emotions, first showing growth mindset, then going to a fixed mindset, and eventually going back to some more aspects of a growth mindset. I first showed growth mindset traits by even though I was unsure about the plays we read, I still had confidence and was determined to get the essay draft accomplished and turned in. I saw a switch in my thinking based on my reaction from when I received my essay back. It was not what I expected on my first college essay. My expectations and knowledge of my writing skills were way higher than where my skills actually fall. I started to see the feedback as a threat rather than using it to grow. I began to stress and get overwhelmed with what I had to fix. I began have some self doubt. I questioned if I could overcome this and grow as a writer and start getting better grades, or should I move onto a different concentration. That night I automatically closed my laptop, and couldn’t look at it any longer. Now a couple days later I have come back to it reading my feedback and making a list of where I found mistakes and how I can make my essay better. This goes back to the grow mindset. I am willing to take my feedback and use it to help my skills further grow. I still question my place in an English concentration and if I want to stick with it, but as time goes on and I work on my growth mindset I know I will become a better writer than before.
Each person has a different way of thinking and different way of interpreting their abilities and skills. Fixed and growth mindsets do not mean you are one or another. It is a scale spectra and you can fall anywhere on it. Next time you come across a challenge in your life or receive feedback, take a step back and look at how you are reacting compared to how you should be. Where do you fall on the scale between fixed and growth mindset?
