A fascinating study in cognitive science that has interesting implications for the concept of “growth mindset” is a 2012 study published in the journal Child Development. In this study, researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) examined the effects of teaching children about the brain’s ability to change and grow in response to learning and experience.
The concept of growth mindset, which was first popularized by Stanford University professor Carol Dweck, is the belief that individuals can improve their abilities and intelligence through effort and learning. This belief has been shown to be an important predictor of success in a variety of settings, including education, sports, and the workplace.
The UCLA study sought to test whether teaching children about the brain’s ability to change and grow in response to learning and experience (a phenomenon known as neuroplasticity) would have an impact on their beliefs about their own abilities and intelligence. To do this, the researchers conducted a randomized controlled trial with a group of fourth and fifth grade students.
The students in the experimental group received a brief lesson on neuroplasticity, which included information about how the brain changes and grows in response to learning and experience. The students in the control group received a lesson on the importance of sleep for learning and memory.
After the intervention, the researchers administered a series of tests to measure the students’ beliefs about their own abilities and intelligence. They found that the students who received the lesson on neuroplasticity were more likely to believe that their abilities and intelligence could be improved through effort and learning, compared to the students in the control group.
These findings have interesting implications for the concept of growth mindset. They suggest that teaching children about the brain’s ability to change and grow in response to learning and experience can help to foster a belief in their own ability to improve and succeed. This is an important insight, as research has shown that a growth mindset is a key predictor of success in a variety of settings.
In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the relationship between neuroplasticity and growth mindset. By teaching children about the brain’s ability to change and grow, we can help to foster a belief in their own ability to improve and succeed. This is an important step in promoting success and achievement in a variety of settings.
References:
Blackwell, L. S., Trzesniewski, K. H., & Dweck, C. S. (2007). Implicit theories of intelligence predict achievement across an adolescent transition: A longitudinal study and an intervention. Child Development, 78(1), 246-263.
Demir-Lira, Ö. E., Chen, C. C., & Güroğlu, B. (2012). Enhancing the development of growth mindsets through neuroeducation. Child Development, 83(2), 534-540.
Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The new psychology of success. New York: Random House.
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