Published in 2006, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success posits the theory that success in all aspects of life—learning, business, competition, and even relationships—is not predetermined by inherent aptitude, intelligence or talent, but rather on the extent to which one is psychologically equipped to grow, adapt and change. Dweck, equipped with degrees in Social Psychology and Developmental Psychology, is no mere pop culture celebrity peddling un-quantified pop psychology. In addition to teaching at Columbia, Harvard, and the Univ. of Illinois, she’s been a Professor of Psychology at Stanford since 2004.
This extensive immersion in the psychology of success produced research and social studies that shaped her central theory that one of the foundational keys to success developing and honing the ability to view every setback and failure not as a judgment of personal worth, but as an opportunity to learn something new. Which this ability is coupled with the assertive drive to try new experiences and not rest upon the stagnating laurels of previous success, one achieves the growth mindset.
Contrasting with the growth mindset is what Dweck terms the fixed mindset. The fixed mindset views failure personally which then limits the desire to risk learning new things and leads to stunted intellectual growth that becomes a pervasive negative influence on all aspects of social engagement.
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success is an examination of the mysterious principles behind why and how some succeed while others do not. Its message is effectively summed by the Dweck's observation that two decades worth of research into the subject has produced the same conclusion: the life you choose to lead is based on how you choose to view yourself.
