Key insights

• 🧠 Praise for intelligence can undermine motivation and performance
• 🏷️ Intelligence feedback linked to labels of identity (e.g., smart, talented)
• 👦🏽 Kids praised for intelligence chose easier tasks, while kids praised for effort chose harder tasks
• 📈 Effort-based feedback leads to better performance than intelligence-based praise
• 🔄 Praise and feedback reinforce behavior patterns
• 🔀 Praise can influence behavior and performance, but intelligence and effort labels may have different effects
• 👏 Praising kids for effort improves performance, while praising intelligence reduces performance
• 🎖️ Rewarding effort is the best way to improve performance

Q&A

• What is the best way to improve performance based on the findings?

  The study suggests that rewarding effort is the best way to improve performance. Praising effort improves performance, while self-affirmation based on identity labels undermines performance. It is important to be mindful of the type of praise and feedback given to children.

• What did the study reveal about children's raw performance on cognitive problems?

  The study showed that children's raw performance on cognitive problems is not significantly different based on intelligence or effort praise. This indicates that praising kids for effort improves performance, while praising intelligence reduces performance.

• How do praise and feedback affect behavior patterns in children?

  Praise and feedback reinforce specific behavior patterns in children. Effort-based feedback leads to better performance than intelligence-based praise. Therefore, adults should be cautious in giving feedback attached to a child's identity.

• What was the impact of praise on the tasks chosen by children?

  Kids praised for intelligence chose easier tasks to maintain praise, while kids praised for effort chose harder tasks to learn more. This demonstrates that praise influences how kids approach challenges and feedback.

• How many children were included in the study?

  Over a hundred children were included in the study, which compared intelligence feedback and effort feedback on children's performance. Intelligence feedback was linked to labels of identity, while effort feedback was tied to behavioral and cognitive choices.

• What did the research paper by Dr. Carol Dweck and colleague Claudia Mueller explore?

  The research paper explored how praise for intelligence can backfire, contrary to common belief. It focused on the effects of intelligence feedback and effort feedback on children's performance, showing that praise for intelligence can undermine motivation and performance.

• 00:02 Praise for intelligence can undermine children's motivation and performance, contrary to common belief.
• 01:17 The study examined the effects of intelligence feedback and effort feedback on children's performance. Intelligence feedback was linked to labels of identity, while effort feedback was tied to behavioral and cognitive choices. The study included over a hundred children.
• 02:37 Kids who were praised for intelligence chose easier tasks to maintain praise, while kids praised for effort chose harder tasks to learn more. Praise affects how kids approach challenges and feedback.
• 03:59 Praise and feedback can reinforce specific behavior patterns in children. Effort-based feedback leads to better performance than intelligence-based praise. Adults should be cautious in giving feedback attached to a child's identity.
• 05:15 Praise can influence a child's behavior and performance, but intelligence and effort labels may have different effects. Study shows that children's raw performance on cognitive problems is not significantly different based on intelligence or effort praise.
• 06:28 Praising kids for effort improves performance, while praising intelligence reduces performance. Self-affirmation based on identity labels undermines performance. Rewarding effort is the best way to improve performance.