noun

growth mindset

GROHTH MYND-set

Growth mindset (noun) means the belief that ability and intelligence can be improved through effort, good strategies and feedback, rather than being fixed at birth. Example: “Teachers praised the effort rather than the marks to encourage a growth mindset.”

noun

The belief that ability and intelligence can be improved through effort, good strategies and feedback, rather than being fixed at birth.

"Teachers praised the effort rather than the marks to encourage a growth mindset."

"Feedback only helps if the person receiving it has a growth mindset."

How to use growth mindset

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishBelieving you can get better at things if you work at them.

When to use it

Standard in education, coaching and corporate training; in casual speech it can sound like management jargon.

Memory tip

Usually written as two words with no hyphen, even before a noun: growth mindset culture.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

fixed mindset resilience → grit → positive thinking

Common pairings

develop a growth mindset growth mindset versus fixed mindset foster a growth mindset

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Teachers praised the effort rather than the marks to encourage a _____.

Etymology

Coined by Carol Dweck.

Antonyms

fixed mindset

Rhymes for growth mindset

mindset

See all rhymes for growth mindset →

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a growth mindset and a fixed mindset?

Someone with a fixed mindset treats talent as a set quantity, so failure feels like proof of a limit and challenge feels risky. Someone with a growth mindset treats ability as trainable, so failure is information and difficulty is where learning happens. Most people hold both attitudes in different areas of life.

Who came up with the idea of a growth mindset?

It comes from the research of the American psychologist Carol Dweck, whose work on how children explain their own successes and failures gave the terms growth mindset and fixed mindset their current meaning. The idea spread rapidly through schools and workplaces.

Is a growth mindset the same as positive thinking?

No. Positive thinking is about expecting good outcomes. A growth mindset is about the belief that effort and better strategies change your ability, which means facing the setback honestly and changing your approach rather than simply feeling optimistic about it.

What is the meaning of growth mindset?

"growth mindset" (noun) means the belief that ability and intelligence can be improved through effort, good strategies and feedback, rather than being fixed at birth.