Fixed theory vs Incremental theory

Summary

• Fixed theory people believe that their inbuilt ability is what allows them to achieve. Incremental theory believe that working hard and challenging yourself results in achievement

Details

• If we experience failure, fixed theory people believe that they cannot continue. Incremental theory people simply view it as a learning experience and that they are stretching themselves.
• Related to growth mindset vs fixed mindset?

References

• The Antidote - Happiness for people who cant stand positive thinking - Oliver Burkeman

Quotes

Each of us can be placed somewhere on a continuum, Dweck argues, depending on our ‘implicit view’ – or unspoken attitude – about what talent is and where it comes from. Those with a ‘fixed theory’ assume that ability is innate; those with an ‘incremental theory’ believe that it evolves through challenge and hard work. If you’re the kind of person who struggles mightily to avoid the experience of failure, it’s likely that you reside near the ‘fixed’ end of Dweck’s continuum. ‘Fixed theory’ people tend to approach challenges as occasions on which they are called upon to demonstrate their innate abilities, and so they find failure especially horrifying: to them, it’s a sign that they tried to show how good they were, but didn’t measure up. The classic example of a person with a ‘fixed theory’ is the young sports star who is encouraged to think of himself as a ‘natural’ – but who then fails to put in sufficient practice to realise his potential. If talent is innate, his unspoken reasoning goes, then why bother?
‘Incremental theory’ people are different. Because they think of abilities as emerging through tackling challenges, the experience of failure has a completely different meaning for them: it’s evidence that they are stretching themselves to their current limit. If they weren’t, they wouldn’t fail. The relevant analogy here is with weight training; muscles grow by being pushed to the limits of their current capacity, where fibres tear and reheal. Among weightlifters, ‘training to failure’ isn’t an admission of defeat – it’s a strategy.

Related

• Growth Mindset
• Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death - Albert Einstein
• Feedback loops critical for growth and learning
• Fixed view of intelligence leads to lack of growth
• We learn continously throughout our lives
• The only failure is to avoid creating in the first place
• Benefit from failure
• Infants are not discouraged by failure