Growth mindset beyond the classroom

Youth with a growth mindset earn better grades and perform better on standardized tests. But research also shows that youth’s mindsets influence a host of other attitudes and behaviors that have consequences both at school and beyond school. Research has found that youth with a growth mindset about their intelligence:

• Retain their confidence when faced with challenges
• Are more open to taking risks and going beyond their abilities
• Are more resilient when they make a mistake or suffer a setback
• Emphasize learning and their development more than “showing off”
• Cheat less, as they are more interested in improving than the final result

These behaviors are part of the reason why students with a growth mindset perform better. And these traits have obvious value for other domains of life, such as personal relationships and success in the workplace.

Other research has looked at a growth mindset of personality, finding that youth who believe their social skills are similarly improveable:

• Feel fewer social pressures
• Have less aggression and stress
• Are less likely to label their peers with fixed identities (e.g., “bully” or “loser”)
• Handle negative experiences, such as bullying, more effectively
• Work harder to improve their relationships with others
• Handle conflict more easily as they recognize their “adversary” as being able to change

Adopting more of a growth mindset can help a child in many ways throughout their life. When caring adults — parents, teachers, neighbors, and, of course, mentors — help youth emphasize a growth mindset, they are truly giving a gift that will last a lifetime.

If you want to learn more about growth mindset and some of the compelling research that shows the power of a growth mindset, check out this collection of articles and research findings. The next lesson explores just how important mentors like you can be in this effort.