What Does Neuroplasticity Have To Do With A Fixed Mindset?
Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to adapt and change in response to new experiences. A fixed mindset, on the other hand, is the belief that one’s intelligence and abilities are static and cannot be changed.
It’s easy to see how these two concepts could conflict with each other. After all, if you believe that your abilities are set in stone, why would you bother trying to improve?
Interestingly, though, recent research has shown that neuroplasticity can actually help to overcome a fixed mindset.
In one study, participants were asked to complete a task that was either very easy or very difficult. Afterwards, they were told either that they had performed well or poorly.
Those with a fixed mindset tended to believe that their performance on the task was a reflection of their intelligence and abilities. As a result, they felt threatened by the idea that they might have performed poorly. This led them to avoid challenging tasks in the future, in order to protect their ego.
On the other hand, those with a growth mindset did not see their performance as a reflection of their intelligence. Instead, they viewed it as an opportunity to learn and improve. This led them to seek out more challenging tasks in the future.
So, what does this all mean?
Simply put, neuroplasticity provides the opportunity for change, even for those with a fixed mindset. By embracing challenge and using failure as a learning experience, we can all improve our abilities andintelligence over time.