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Notes -
The triumph of the blank slate
i recently was in a seminar discussing fixed versus growth mindsets, and it was argued that believing in any innate/genetic component of intelligence was connected to a 'fixed' mindset. we were discouraged from using the idea of 'talent' as it implied that some people were just naturally better at some things than others. it seems like a core part of the 'diversity, equity, and inclusion' mantra that is finding its way everywhere - the idea of innate difference is anathema to the principle behind caring about equity versus equality.
I think the growth vs. fixed mindset paradigm is bunkum . Its obvious that although practice can improve absolute ability, relative differences will persist, which is more important. People want to not just get better at things, but better relative to other people or good enough to make a living or attain some recognition. competitors train equally hard for marathons, yet some runners are still clearly better than others. Despite law school prospects using the same apps and study methods, why do some individuals score higher on the LSAT than others? Likely IQ.
I think women can be more competitive at endurance-like events relative to men, but the women-in-sports debate focuses on activities in which men are massively better, like mma (anything to do with combat, speed, strength). I have observed this myself...women climbing mountains as well as men, which would be like going to the gym and seeing women doing 225+ reps on the bench with good form, which you will never see. Indeed, the best women's marathon time is 2:14 vs, 2:02 for men, a 10% difference. By comparison, the best men's deadlift is about 70% greater than the best women's deadlift. I think this is why marathon or 5k,10k events tend to be more diverse than other sports activities.
It's a Current Hot Thing in pedagogy. Those are usually a core of wishful thinking with a thin science-flavored veneer on top, for the same reason that star basketball players are usually very tall: it's a big competitive advantage in the marketplace of ideas, as long as the participants in that marketplace don't particularly care about what's actually true.
(Regarding the growth mindset stuff in particular: attempted replications keep failing to show much effect except when Carol Dweck is personally involved, which at the very least does not inspire confidence in its ability to accomplish anything real at scale.)
Short version of my theory:
Fixed mindset is what is true.
But people who believe in growth mindset actually work to their fullest potential instead of sitting on their ass.
I am very uncomfortable with The Noble Lie but telling someone that they are just going to end up wherever mother nature decides is robbing them of something big.
This is related to having an internal versus external locus of control. The difference has a massive impact on motivation and perseverance.
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