The Mother Nature Network – Ali Berman
“Are you bad at math? If you answered yes, consider these next two questions: Are you bad at math because you didn’t study hard enough to learn the material? Or, are you bad at math because you lack the ability to be good at it? How people answer that question determines a lot about their education and outlook on life, according to multiple studies. As it turns out, some people believe that intelligence is fixed, or unchangeable. Others believe that hard work and discipline can improve intelligence. The children who believe that they don’t do well on math tests because they’re intellectually incapable of understanding the material have no reason to try harder or spend more time studying, thus trapping them in a self-fulfilling prophecy of being bad at math. The students who believe they can do better if they study know that their mathematical skills (or any skills for that matter) can be enhanced if they put in the effort.”(more)