Fixed vs. Growth Mindset: The Two Basic Types That Shape Our Lives for 2025

by Imed Bouchrika, Phd

Co-Founder and Chief Data Scientist

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The views that students have about their own intellect have a substantial impact on both their attitude toward learning and their overall experience of school. It helps them participate more effectively throughout the lesson that they are taking. In addition to that, it affects how individuals cope with failures and difficulties that come up during the learning process.

Therefore, one’s mental attitude plays a significant part in both the process of learning and, as a consequence, the achievement of pupils. This article explores the two primary types of mindsets, namely growth and fixed mindsets. It will also investigate instances in which a learner’s thinking directly influences many areas of their education.

Mindset and Learning for 2025: Table of Contents

1. What is mindset and why is it important?
2. What are the two types of mindset?
3. How Mindset Affects Learning
4. Does integrating flexible learning methods enhance mindset and success?
5. Can a growth mindset help you make informed decisions about affordable online education?
6. Can a growth mindset positively impact financial success?
7. Can a Growth Mindset Enhance Access to Affordable Doctorate Programs?
8. How does mindset influence career development and professional growth?
9. Could a growth mindset accelerate advanced academic pursuits?
10. How Can Digital Education Platforms Elevate a Growth Mindset?
11. What challenges might arise when adopting a growth mindset?

What is mindset and why is it important?

Mindset is the belief that qualities such as talent, skills, and intelligence are fixed or changeable (O’Keefe et al., 2018). It is one’s perception of how brains work and how it affects behavior and actions.

Mindset plays a vital role in how people cope with and respond to different challenges and problems in life. It also affects resilience, grit, and motivation. According to Dr. Carol S. Dweck, it contributes to a person’s increased efforts in the face of adversity. Consequently, it is a key component in one’s pursuit of success and achievements. It may even contribute to mindfulness and the ability to self-reflect. Mindset contributes to thought-provoking questions and challenges that students may ask themselves, especially when reflecting on their abilities, experiences, and values.

For instance, a survey among students with a GPA of 3.5 or higher shows a majority of them possessing very high motivation. At the heart of such high motivation is a mindset that affects attitude and behavior, resulting in better outcomes.

What are the two types of mindset?

Mindset develops early in one’s life. Experts think that mindset is a combination of experiences, values, and how children are raised. While each individual’s mindset is unique, they can be grouped into two general types: fixed mindset and growth mindset (O’Keefe et al., 2018).

Fixed Mindset

Fixed mindset refers to the belief that ability or talent are fixed traits that do not change over time (O’Keefe et al., 2018). It sees effort as bad as one should not have to work hard if they have the talent or skill. Those with such a mindset are concerned with the appearance of being smart to prove their abilities.

Individuals who are taught to have this behavior are focused on how they are judged. Consequently, a fear of not living up to expectations develops during early childhood. Furthermore, they see helplessness as a sign of failure, which means it is time to give up.

Growth Mindset

People with a growth mindset consider abilities as malleable. As such, they believe that talent is developed over time through practice, studies, and other endeavors. They enjoy challenges and are more likely to explore and embrace new experiences.

Instead of considering mistakes as the end, they see it as an opportunity to try new approaches. They are open to making errors for the sake of learning. This means they develop resilience and grit during their formative years. Students with a growth mindset have greater chances of thriving in many challenging circumstances. For example, online college students with a growth mindset will actively seek opportunities to socialize and make friends regardless of their unique academic set-up.

How Mindset Affects Learning

While there are numerous studies conducted on the effects of mindset on student performance, it is best exemplified by Dweck’s study among Chilean 10th graders. It showed that a growth mindset reduces the significant effect of poverty on academic achievement.

Effect of Mindset on Academic Performance

Blackwell and colleagues (2007) conducted two experiments among middle school students to explore the impact of a fixed mindset (entity theory) and a growth mindset (incremental theory) on their mathematics grades.

Students who exhibited a growth mindset showed improvements in their mathematics grades over two years of junior high school (Blackwell et al., 2007). On the other hand, students with a fixed mindset showed no changes in their math grades at all.

Furthermore, an additional experiment was conducted to see the effect of intervention teaching that uses a growth mindset. The teaching methods used in the experiment group included developing learning goals, a positive attitude towards effort, and similar strategies. At the end of the study, those in the experimental group showed positive changes in their academic performance. On the other hand, those in the control group who did not use growth mindset techniques showed a downward trajectory in performance and grades.

Impact of Mindset on Seeking Feedback

Another study examined how people with varying mindsets seek feedback after they failed or struggled with a task (Nussbaum & Dweck, 2008). Researchers administered a difficult test among participants. After the examination, they told the participants that they did not do well on the tests. Then, the participants were given two choices: look at the tests of those who scored worse than them or those who performed better than them.

Subjects with a growth mindset chose to review the tests of those who scored better than them. Their motivation is to learn from those who had done better in the examination. Meanwhile, those with fixed mindsets elected to look at the test results of subjects who performed worse than them. Their goal is to make themselves feel better by comparing their performance with those with lower scores.

Relationship Between Grit and Mindset

Grit is the ability to sustain effort and interest toward goals for a long-time (Duckworth, 2018). Individuals with high levels of grit are more likely to believe that they can control events in their lives. As such, these people are willing to put in the effort to achieve their goals despite setbacks and challenges. It highlights one’s long-term stamina instead of short-term intensity.

A survey of various studies showed that possessing a growth mindset is a key component of grit (Hochanadel & Finamore, 2015). Students who believe that they can grow their abilities make an effort to improve and eventually reach their goals. They are able to face hurdles and apply themselves to increasingly challenging tasks. These traits and skills are crucial in a student’s development both in academic and professional life.

Neuroplasticity: Changing One’s Mindset

An increasing number of studies attempt to find the biological evidence of a growth mindset. Despite the absence of definitive empirical research, potential evidence points towards neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity refers to the brain’s ability to reorganize and remodel to adapt to new situations and changes in the environment (Demarin & Morovic, 2014).

The brain is likened to a malleable plastic. It continues to develop throughout one’s lifetime, even during adulthood. It reshapes itself as it creates and loses neural pathways.

A key component of a growth mindset is motivation, which can be traced to certain parts of the brain, such as the ventral striatum and anterior cingulate cortex (Ng, 2018). Motivated behaviors directly affect people’s thoughts and actions.

As students focus more on learning, neural pathways are established. Practicing skills leads to the formation of more neuronal circuits that leads to better ability in performing particular tasks. The brain becomes familiar with these pathways, thereby further developing the ability until it becomes “easy" to the individual.

As these thoughts and actions become a habit, it becomes “hardwired" to the brain. The repetition of tasks creates “routes" that become easier to use.

For example, solving mathematical problems creates millions of neural pathways. In the beginning, solving such problems is more difficult as the circuits are not fully developed. However, as the student continues to practice and learns from mistakes, new connections are created each time, which leads to better critical and logical thinking.

Does integrating flexible learning methods enhance mindset and success?

Utilizing flexible learning methods supports the development of a growth mindset by fostering adaptability and continuous skill improvement. Professionals and students alike can benefit from incorporating diverse educational formats that align with evolving industry standards. Targeted learning modules, practical workshops, and accredited courses provide focused, efficient knowledge gains. For instance, enrolling in short certificate programs enables learners to quickly acquire competencies that can be directly applied in dynamic career fields, reinforcing a proactive approach to personal and professional development.

Can a growth mindset help you make informed decisions about affordable online education?

Adopting a growth mindset promotes a systematic approach to evaluating educational investments. This outlook encourages individuals to explore cost-effective learning opportunities and critically assess the value of various programs, including online degrees. Applying this perspective can lead to thorough research and comparison of programs that align with both career goals and budget constraints. For instance, a student with a growth mindset is more inclined to review multiple options and practical outcomes, such as understanding the overall investment by exploring "How much does an associate's degree cost online?". This analytical approach not only supports sound financial decisions but also reinforces continual professional and personal development.

Can a growth mindset positively impact financial success?

Adopting a growth mindset can extend its benefits into financial decision-making and long-term economic resilience. Individuals who view challenges as opportunities are more likely to evaluate and invest in educational paths that yield significant returns. This perspective can lead to more strategic career choices and sound financial planning, as it encourages taking calculated risks, pursuing continuous skill development, and recognizing the potential in unconventional opportunities. For example, by leveraging a growth-oriented approach, students may actively explore fields with higher financial prospects, such as college majors that make the most money, thereby enhancing both their career trajectory and financial stability.

Can a Growth Mindset Enhance Access to Affordable Doctorate Programs?

Individuals with a growth mindset inspires proactive strategies when exploring advanced academic opportunities, including affordable doctoral studies. This approach encourages meticulous evaluation of program quality in conjunction with financial feasibility. For example, informed learners strategically investigate options such as cheapest doctorate online to align rigorous academic pursuits with cost-effective solutions. By embracing continuous feedback and adaptive learning, these individuals not only overcome the financial and logistical challenges of higher education but also build a foundation for sustained academic and professional excellence.

How does mindset influence career development and professional growth?

Mindset is not only a powerful factor in academic success but also plays a crucial role in shaping career paths and professional development. A growth mindset can enhance resilience, adaptability, and ambition, while a fixed mindset may limit career advancement and reduce job satisfaction.

• Adaptability to Change: In the modern workplace, change is constant. Professionals with a growth mindset are more likely to view new technologies, evolving roles, and market shifts as opportunities for learning and growth, making them better equipped to handle career transitions and advancements.
• Willingness to Learn and Upskill: Individuals with a growth mindset seek to improve continuously. They are more inclined to pursue further education, certifications, and skill-building activities, which makes them valuable to employers and enables them to achieve long-term career growth.
• Feedback as a Tool for Professional Development: A growth mindset fosters a constructive approach to feedback. Professionals with this mindset actively seek feedback from mentors and supervisors to identify areas of improvement, which can accelerate career advancement and improve job performance.
• Innovation and Problem-Solving: Those with a growth mindset are more open to exploring creative solutions and embracing new ideas, which can drive innovation within teams and organizations. Their willingness to take calculated risks and learn from failures also makes them better problem-solvers.

What challenges might arise when adopting a growth mindset?

Individuals changing their entrenched beliefs often encounter obstacles such as persistent self-doubt, ingrained negative self-talk, and the resistance that comes from habitual fixed patterns. Overcoming these challenges requires addressing cognitive biases and learning to view setbacks as temporary rather than definitive. Structured environments that facilitate self-paced and reflective practices, such as an online college at your own pace, can support individuals in gradually transforming their approach to failure and criticism without overwhelming pressure.

Could a growth mindset accelerate advanced academic pursuits?

A growth mindset not only fosters resilience but also encourages the strategic pursuit of intensive educational pathways. Learners with this outlook are more inclined to explore accelerated programs that consolidate expertise efficiently, equipping them with skills essential for rapidly evolving industries. Such individuals often utilize innovative academic structures to enhance their qualifications, as seen in opportunities like a 6 month master's degree online. This proactive approach enables professionals to align their learning trajectories with market demands, thereby reinforcing their competitive edge.

How Can Digital Education Platforms Elevate a Growth Mindset?

Digital education platforms can provide a dynamic environment that reinforces self-driven improvement and adaptability. These platforms offer personalized feedback, interactive modules, and community support systems that enable learners to monitor progress and embrace challenges with confidence. Access to innovative resources—such as online school programs—facilitates tailored learning experiences, allowing individuals to pursue unconventional approaches while strengthening their resilience and commitment to continuous learning.

How to Develop a Growth Mindset?

Mindset development primarily happens during childhood, which means parents, teachers, and peers have a significant effect on one’s attitude towards ability (O’Keefe et al., 2018). However, this does not mean that students cannot develop a growth mindset on their own. There are numerous steps that help develop a growth mindset (Briggs, 2020).

First, acknowledging one’s imperfections is an excellent start, especially in recognizing challenges and failures as opportunities for self-improvement. Additionally, it shifts the focus on learning instead of seeking approval. Different learning tactics can be explored to further improve one’s ability by focusing on the process instead of the end result.

As the ability of an individual to appreciate learning and development improves, it becomes easy to cultivate a sense of purpose by setting goals that celebrate growth instead of speed. Valuing growth allows an individual to accept criticism as a necessary element of improvement.

Developing a growth mindset is a continuous process. Just like what the mindset entails, its development requires an effort that highlights one’s ability to improve over time.

Key Insights

• Impact of Mindset on Learning: Students' beliefs about their intelligence significantly influence their learning attitudes and overall school experience. A growth mindset fosters resilience and a positive attitude towards challenges, while a fixed mindset can hinder academic performance and personal growth.
• Types of Mindsets: The two primary types of mindsets are fixed and growth mindsets. A fixed mindset views abilities as static, while a growth mindset sees them as developable through effort and practice.
• Effect on Academic Performance: Research indicates that students with a growth mindset show improvement in academic performance over time, while those with a fixed mindset do not.
• Influence on Feedback Seeking: Individuals with a growth mindset seek feedback to learn and improve, while those with a fixed mindset seek feedback to validate their abilities.
• Relationship with Grit: A growth mindset is closely associated with grit, the perseverance and passion for long-term goals. Students with a growth mindset are more likely to sustain their efforts towards achieving their objectives despite obstacles.
• Neuroplasticity: The brain's ability to change and adapt, known as neuroplasticity, supports the concept of a growth mindset. Continuous learning and practice create new neural pathways, enhancing abilities over time.
• Developing a Growth Mindset: Developing a growth mindset involves acknowledging imperfections, focusing on learning processes, setting growth-oriented goals, and valuing feedback for improvement.

FAQ

1. What is a growth mindset, and how does it differ from a fixed mindset? A growth mindset is the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort, learning, and persistence. In contrast, a fixed mindset is the belief that abilities and intelligence are static and cannot be changed. People with a growth mindset embrace challenges and view failures as opportunities to grow, while those with a fixed mindset avoid challenges and fear failure.
2. How does mindset affect academic performance? Mindset affects academic performance by influencing students' attitudes towards learning and challenges. Students with a growth mindset are more likely to put in the effort, seek help, and persist through difficulties, leading to improved academic performance over time. Conversely, students with a fixed mindset may give up easily when faced with challenges, leading to stagnation or decline in academic performance.
3. Can mindset be changed, and if so, how? Yes, mindset can be changed. Developing a growth mindset involves recognizing and challenging fixed mindset beliefs, focusing on learning and growth, setting realistic and growth-oriented goals, and seeking feedback for improvement. Practicing self-reflection and embracing challenges as opportunities to learn are also crucial steps in developing a growth mindset.
4. What role do parents and teachers play in shaping a student's mindset? Parents and teachers play a significant role in shaping a student's mindset. They can encourage a growth mindset by praising effort rather than innate talent, emphasizing the value of learning from mistakes, and providing constructive feedback. Creating a supportive and challenging environment that fosters curiosity and resilience also helps in developing a growth mindset.
5. How does a growth mindset contribute to grit and long-term success? A growth mindset contributes to grit by fostering perseverance and resilience. Individuals with a growth mindset believe that their efforts will lead to improvement, motivating them to persist in the face of challenges. This long-term commitment to goals, combined with the willingness to learn and adapt, is essential for achieving success in various aspects of life.
6. What is neuroplasticity, and how does it relate to a growth mindset? Neuroplasticity is the brain's ability to reorganize and form new neural connections throughout life. This ability supports the concept of a growth mindset by demonstrating that the brain can change and adapt in response to learning and experience. Continuous practice and effort can strengthen neural pathways, enhancing skills and abilities over time.
7. Why is it important for students to seek feedback, and how does mindset influence this behavior? Seeking feedback is important for identifying areas of improvement and making necessary adjustments to enhance performance. Mindset influences this behavior by determining the motivation behind seeking feedback. Students with a growth mindset seek feedback to learn and improve, while those with a fixed mindset seek feedback to validate their abilities and avoid feeling inadequate.
8. How can educators promote a growth mindset in their students? Educators can promote a growth mindset by encouraging a focus on effort and learning, providing constructive feedback, and creating a classroom environment that values curiosity and resilience. They can also model a growth mindset by sharing their own learning experiences and emphasizing the importance of persistence and adaptation in overcoming challenges.
9. What are some practical strategies for students to develop a growth mindset? Practical strategies for developing a growth mindset include embracing challenges, viewing failures as learning opportunities, seeking feedback for improvement, setting realistic and growth-oriented goals, and practicing self-reflection. Students can also benefit from surrounding themselves with supportive peers and mentors who encourage a growth-oriented approach to learning and personal development.
10. How does mindset affect a student's approach to problem-solving and critical thinking?

Mindset affects a student's approach to problem-solving and critical thinking by influencing their willingness to engage with challenging tasks and explore different solutions. Students with a growth mindset are more likely to approach problems with curiosity and persistence, seeking multiple solutions and learning from their mistakes. In contrast, students with a fixed mindset may avoid complex problems and stick to familiar methods, limiting their ability to develop critical thinking skills.

References:

• Blackwell, L. S., Trzesniewski, K. H., & Dweck, C. S. (2007). Implicit theories of intelligence predict achievement across an adolescent transition: a longitudinal study and an intervention. Child Development, 78 (1), 246-263. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2007.00995.x
• Briggs, S. (2020, December 16). 25 ways to develop a growth mindset. Open Colleges
• Demarin, V., & Morovic, S. (2014). Neuroplasticity. Periodicum Biologorum, 116 (2), 209-211. https://hrcak.srce.hr/126369
• Duckworth, A. (2018). Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance. New York: Scribner. Google Books
• Janssen, S., & O’Brien, M. (2014). Disentangling the effects of student attitudes and behaviors on academic performance. International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 8 (2), 7. https://doi.org/10.20429/ijsotl.2014.080207
• Hochanadel, A., & Finamore, D. (2015). Fixed and growth mindset in education and how grit helps students persist in the face of adversity. Journal of International Education Research, 11 (1), 47-50. https://doi.org/10.19030/jier.v11i1.9099
• Ng, B. (2018). The neuroscience of growth mindset and intrinsic motivation. Brain Sciences, 8 (2). https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci8020020
• Nussbaum, A. D., & Dweck, C. S. (2008). Defensiveness versus remediation: self-theories and modes of self-esteem maintenance. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 34 (5), 599-612. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167207312960
• O’Keefe, P. A., Dweck, C. S., & Walton, G. M. (2018). Implicit theories of interest: finding your passion or developing it? Psychological Science, 29 (10), 1653-1664. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797618780643
• Romero, C. (2015). What we know about growth mindset from scientific research. Mindset Scholars Network.