How Feedback Affects Performance - Andrew Huberman - Growth Mindset

Summary

In this episode of 'After Skool,' Dr. Andrew Huberman explores the concept of a growth mindset, emphasizing the malleability of abilities. He discusses the impact of feedback on performance, citing a study by Dr. Carol Dweck that shows praising intelligence can hinder motivation, while praising effort enhances it. Huberman advises shifting narratives from performance to effort, fostering improvement and persistence.

Takeaways

• 🧠 The concept of a growth mindset is the belief that our abilities are not fixed but can be developed through effort and learning.
• 🤔 The importance of self-reflection on personal strengths and weaknesses, and questioning the origins of these beliefs, is emphasized.
• 🏅 Dr. Carol Dweck's research is foundational in the field of growth mindset, showing that how we receive feedback significantly affects our motivation and performance.
• 🔍 The study by Dweck and Mueller found that praising children for their intelligence could undermine their motivation and performance, contrary to common belief.
• 🏆 Receiving praise for effort, rather than innate ability, encourages children to take on more challenges and persist in the face of difficulty.
• 📉 Intelligence-based praise can lead to a decrease in performance, while effort-based praise can enhance it, highlighting the power of the right type of feedback.
• 🛠️ The type of feedback we receive, especially early in learning, becomes integrated into our core beliefs about our capabilities.
• 🔄 The potential negative effects of intelligence praise include a tendency to avoid challenges and a likelihood of misrepresenting one's performance.
• 💪 Shifting narratives from performance to effort can help foster a growth mindset and continuous improvement.
• 👨‍🏫 As educators and parents, being mindful of the type of feedback given is crucial for nurturing a growth mindset in children.
• 🌐 The Huberman Lab podcast and social media platforms provide additional science-based tools for mental, physical health, and performance.

Q & A

What is the concept of a growth mindset according to Andrew Huberman?

A growth mindset is the idea that our abilities are not fixed but are malleable, and we can improve at things through effort and learning.

What are some questions that Andrew Huberman recommends we ask ourselves to understand our abilities better?

He suggests asking ourselves what we've been told we're good or poor at, what we tell ourselves we're good or bad at, and considering the origins of these messages.

What is the main difference between intelligence feedback and effort feedback as discussed by Andrew Huberman?

Intelligence feedback is tied to identity labels like 'smart' or 'talented', while effort feedback is tied to verbs and actions, focusing on the effort and persistence applied.

What did Dr. Carol Dweck's research show about the effects of intelligence praise on children's motivation and performance?

Her research showed that intelligence praise can undermine children's motivation and performance, making them less likely to choose challenging tasks and potentially leading to misrepresented performance.

How did the children in Dr. Dweck's study respond to intelligence praise when later presented with easy or hard problems?

Children who received intelligence praise tended to select problems they knew they could perform well on, avoiding challenges that could jeopardize the praise they received.

What was the impact of effort praise on children's choice of problems in Dr. Dweck's study?

Children who received effort praise were more likely to choose harder problems, indicating a desire to learn and grow from the challenges.

How did the performance of children who received intelligence praise compare to those who received effort praise in subsequent problem sets?

The performance of children who received intelligence praise declined, while the performance of those who received effort praise improved significantly.

What is the potential negative consequence of intelligence praise that was revealed in Dr. Dweck's study?

The study revealed that children who received intelligence praise were more likely to misrepresent their performance in the future, tending to lie about their scores to appear better than they actually did.

What advice does Andrew Huberman give regarding the type of feedback we should give ourselves or receive from others?

He advises that we should focus on effort-related narratives rather than performance narratives, rewarding ourselves for effort, which can lead to improved performance and growth.

How can the findings from Dr. Dweck's study be applied to self-improvement and personal development?

By shifting our focus from fixed identity labels to effort and persistence, we can foster a growth mindset that encourages continuous learning and improvement, regardless of initial ability.

What is the significance of understanding neuroplasticity in relation to the growth mindset?

Neuroplasticity is the brain's ability to change and adapt, which supports the idea of a growth mindset by showing that intelligence and abilities can be developed and improved through effort and experience.