The Power of belief -- mindset and success | Eduardo Briceno | TEDxManhattanBeach

Summary

This script explores the key to success through the lens of a growth mindset, as opposed to fixed abilities. It highlights Josh Waitzkin's journey from chess prodigy to martial arts champion, illustrating how embracing challenges and learning from failure fosters growth. The script emphasizes the impact of mindset on performance and learning, backed by studies showing that a growth mindset leads to improved grades and resilience. It concludes with actionable advice on cultivating a growth mindset for personal and societal development.

Takeaways

• 🧠 The key to success is not just hard work or focus, but a 'growth mindset' that fosters these traits.
• 🤗 Josh Waitzkin's success in chess and martial arts demonstrates the power of applying a growth mindset to new challenges.
• 💡 Losing can be a catalyst for growth, as it helps avoid the psychological trap of believing in fixed abilities.
• 🌟 Carol Dweck's research highlights the difference between a 'fixed mindset' and a 'growth mindset', and their impact on behavior and achievement.
• 📚 A growth mindset is linked to improved academic performance, as students who believe in their ability to learn tend to perform better over time.
• 🧠 Neuroscience supports the growth mindset by showing that the brain is malleable and can change its capabilities through effort.
• 💪 Effort is seen as a pathway to intelligence and growth by those with a growth mindset, unlike those with a fixed mindset who may see it negatively.
• 🚫 People with a fixed mindset are more likely to give up when faced with setbacks, whereas a growth mindset embraces challenges as opportunities to learn.
• 🧐 Brain scans reveal that individuals with a growth mindset are more active when learning how to improve, rather than focusing on current performance.
• 👶 Praise can inadvertently instill a fixed mindset if it focuses on innate abilities, whereas praising effort encourages a growth mindset.
• 🔄 Mindsets can be changed, and interventions can help shift individuals towards a growth mindset with positive effects on learning and performance.

Q & A

What is the main idea discussed by the reviewer in the script?

The main idea discussed in the script is the concept of a growth mindset and its significant impact on achieving success and personal development.

Who is Josh Waitzkin and what is significant about his achievements?

Josh Waitzkin is an international chess master and the subject of the movie 'Searching for Bobby Fischer'. His significant achievements include winning multiple national chess championships and mastering martial arts, specifically tai chi chuan, to the point of winning two world championships.

What did Josh Waitzkin learn from losing his first national chess championship?

Josh Waitzkin learned the importance of avoiding psychological traps such as believing he was special or smarter than others, and the realization that success is not solely determined by innate ability but by a growth mindset.

What is the difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset according to Carol Dweck?

A fixed mindset is the belief that intelligence or abilities are fixed traits, while a growth mindset views these qualities as something that can be developed through effort and learning.

How did the study involving Dr. Dweck and Dr. Lisa Blackwell demonstrate the impact of mindset on academic performance?

The study showed that students with a growth mindset, who believed they could improve their intelligence, increased their grades over time, whereas students with a fixed mindset did not show this improvement.

What does the script suggest about the effectiveness of directly building grit or persistence without addressing the underlying mindset?

The script suggests that directly trying to build grit or persistence is not as effective as addressing the mindset that underlies these qualities, indicating that a growth mindset is critical to fostering resilience and perseverance.

How does the script describe the physiological manifestation of mindset in the brain?

The script describes that for people with a fixed mindset, the brain is most active when receiving information about performance, while for those with a growth mindset, the brain is most active when receiving information about how to improve, indicating a focus on learning.

What is the consequence of having a fixed mindset when facing setbacks or failures, according to the script?

People with a fixed mindset tend to conclude that they are incapable after facing setbacks or failures, leading to a loss of interest or withdrawal, which is often perceived as a lack of motivation.

How does the script illustrate the difference in behavior between children praised with a fixed mindset versus a growth mindset?

The script illustrates that children praised with a fixed mindset tend to choose easier tasks and perform worse when faced with difficult puzzles, while those praised with a growth mindset are more likely to choose challenging tasks and improve their performance.

What are some practical steps that can be taken to instill a growth mindset, as suggested in the script?

The script suggests recognizing the benefits and scientific support for a growth mindset, learning and teaching others about how to develop abilities through deliberate practice, and listening for and countering fixed mindset voices with a growth mindset perspective.

Why is it important to teach a growth mindset in schools according to the script?

Teaching a growth mindset in schools is important because it not only improves overall student achievements but also helps to narrow the achievement gap, especially for students who face negative stereotypes.