Learning: Praise Effort

Betty:  Mom, I got an A on my math exam today!
Mom:  Aw Betty, you're so smart!
Long term outcome:  Betty will solve fewer problems and encounter more failure than if Mom had not praised her for her intelligence.

Do you have the ability to work your way through a problem?  Or do you know people who can?  I have worked with technicians for nearly twenty-five years.  These folks have to repair and maintain complicated and highly technical  electrical, computerized and mechanical equipment.  My position places me smack dab in the middle of dealing with the really good ones and also dealing with those who are not so good.  One characteristic that drives a Grand Canyon between each type of technician, is the ability to work through a problem.  The technicians who have the ability to step back, analyze the situation and work through it in methodical fashion are light years past those who can't.  It isn't even close.

Susy:  Mom, I got a C on my science exam.
Mom:  That's ok Susy, you just have to work a little harder next time, you can do it!
Long term outcome:  Susy will achieve more due in part to the praise she has received for her effort.

Carol S. Dweck writes a fascinating article in Scientific American Mind titled, The Secret to Raising Smart Kids.  Supported by research and testing, Carol contrasts the difference between two different classes of learners - helpless versus mastery-oriented.  The helpless type possess a fixed mind-set and the mastery-oriented possess a growth mind-set.

Fixed mind-set - Believe that intelligence is a fixed trait.  One only has a certain amount.
Growth mind-set - Believe that intelligence can be developed through education and hard work.  They want to learn above all else.

If you have a chance, read Carol's article.  Understanding the basic premise behind it, might make you want to help those who really put forth an effort, even more.

Dave Rothacker
daverothacker.com

Comments

[Steve Sherlock]

David, thanks for the link. I will follow it to read Carol's article.

Your post highlights a major factor for learning. As much as we can learn from the past, we can not be restrainted by what we did previously, we need to be open to the circumstances at hand and approach it more with a "fresh mind" than from an experienced mind.

[Ariane Benefit, Neat & Simple Living]

Oh my! I just left a comment on April's Post about how hard it is to teach the value of effort over outcome. I read that article on praising effort and man, did it hit home. As a kid, I was always praised by teachers for outcomes and "my potential" I got lots of Fs in writing from one teacher who took off a whole grade for every mistake. It took many, many years to start to like to write and start to recover from perfectionism. I think that is part of why it takes me so long to write, and even longer to publish.

GREAT article!!