Carol Dweck

According to Carol Dweck, a fixed mindset is the belief that human intelligence and talents are static traits you are born with, whereas a growth mindset is the belief that abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work. Individuals with a growth mindset view failures as opportunities to learn, while those with a fixed mindset view failure as a reflection of their permanent limitations. This core distinction drives how people approach challenges throughout their lives.

Carol S. Dweck is the Lewis and Virginia Eaton Professor of Psychology at Stanford University. She has been a faculty member at Stanford for many years, where she runs the Stanford Mind & Body Lab. Her academic career at Stanford has been the central hub for her extensive research on motivation and personality.

She authored the widely popular 2006 book "Mindset: The New Psychology of Success." The book translates her decades of academic research into accessible concepts for parents, educators, and business leaders. It has since become a foundational text in modern educational and corporate training programs worldwide.

In a famous series of experiments, Dweck and her colleagues gave children a test and then praised them either for their intelligence ("you must be smart") or their effort ("you must have worked hard"). She found that children praised for intelligence were more likely to avoid difficult tasks later to protect their ego, while children praised for effort were more resilient and eager to take on harder challenges. This proved that the type of praise we receive actively shapes our mindset.