4.2 Grit vs. Growth Mindset

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  Posted by CUNY Mindset Initiative on July 3, 2024 at 7:42 pm

  💬 Discussion:

  • Grit: What does the idea of “grit” permit or disallow when employed as a model for motivating students’ success?

  There is much more to explore on learning mindsets, and we invite you to enjoy these videos, then share your thoughts here.

  One prominent framework of motivation is the idea of individual grit as espoused by Angela Duckworth. Check out her Ted Talk on “Grit: The power of passion and perseverance.”

  An alternative perspective is America Ferrera’s response to institutional obstacles and the “deeply entrenched value system” of exclusion. Watch her Ted Talk, “My identity is a superpower — not an obstacle.”

• Weiheng Sun (he/him/his)

  Member

  July 8, 2024 at 5:45 pm

  The idea of “grit” is powerful; passion and perseverance are certainly two critical aspects that lead to success. Highlighting effort, persistence, and resilience motivates students to keep trying when faced with challenges. The obstacles can be overcome through effort and perseverance.

  It is interesting that Duckworth points out how “growth mindset” is helpful in building grit. The growth mindset allows one to believe that “the ability to learn is not fixed,” and failure is reframed as an opportunity to learn and grow. As a result, students are more likely to persevere after failure.

  I think the emphasis on grit is important because it holds students accountable. But we also need to recognize that there are external conditions beyond students’ control, such as socioeconomic status, educational resources, institutional barriers (as in Ferrera’s video), and so on. Each student is an individual, but they are also part of an interconnected social web that constantly shapes and is shaped by them. We need to balance the grit model with an awareness of external factors. Furthermore, an emphasis on grit does not mean that other skills such as teamwork, emotional intelligence, etc. are not important for success.