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Growth mindset is everywhere these days. Dr. Carol Dweck\u2019s research showing that a growth mindset can help children to overcome academic struggles is being incorporated to curriculum planning across the U.S. and in many other countries, and school districts in California are even using it to evaluate schools\u2019 performance. I get ads popping up in my Facebook feed every day for a journal that helps children to develop a growth mindset, and judging from the comments those folks selling the journal are doing very nicely for themselves.\nWhich means that the science underlying the idea of growth mindset must be rock solid, right?\nWell, perhaps you might be surprised (or not, if you\u2019re a regular listener) to know that this actually isn\u2019t the case. The main study on which the entire growth mindset theory is based has never been replicated, which is the gold standard for considering whether an effect that was found in a study is really real. And a variety of subsequent studies supporting the findings of the original one were either so tiny as to be not useful or failed to find any relevant effect (although in some cases they went on to report their findings as if they did\u2026).\nWe\u2019ll tease all this out in the episode, and will discuss whether growth mindset is something worth fostering in your child.\n\n \nOther shows mentioned in this episode\nhttps://yourparentingmojo.com/selfesteem/ (Don\u2019t bother trying to increase your child\u2019s self-esteem)\nhttps://yourparentingmojo.com/009-do-you-punish-your-child-with-rewards/ (Do you punish your child with rewards?)\n \nReferences\nAdams, J.M. (2014, May 5). Measuring a \u2018growth mindset in a new school accountability system. Edsource. Retrieved from https://edsource.org/2014/measuring-a-growth-mindset-in-a-new-school-accountability-system/63557\nBandura, A. (1981). Self-referent thought: A developmental analysis of self-efficacy. In J.H. Flavell and L. Ross (Eds.), Social cognitive development: Frontiers and possible futures. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.\nBaumeister, R.F., Campbell, J.D., Krueger, J.I., and Vohs, K.D. (2003). Does high self-esteem cause better performance, interpersonal success, happiness, or healthier lifestyles? Psychological Science in the Public Interest 4(1), 1-44.\nBoykin, A.W., Albury, A., Tyler, K.M., Hurley, E.A., Bailey, C.T., and Miller, O.A. (2005). Culture-based perceptions of academic achievement among low-income elementary students. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology 11, 339-50.\nBriggs, D.C. (1970). Your child\u2019s self-esteem. Garden City, NY: Doubleday.\nBrown, N. (2017, January 14). In which science actually self-corrects, for once. Retrieved from http://steamtraen.blogspot.fr/2017/01/in-which-science-actually-self-corrects.html\nBurnette, J.L., VanEpps, E.M., O\u2019Boyle, E.H., Pollack, J.M., and Finkel, E.J. (2013). Mind-sets matter: A meta-analytic review of implicit theories and self-regulation. Psychological Bulletin 139(3), 655-701.\nChivers, T. (2017, January 14). A mindset \u201crevolution\u201d sweeping Britain\u2019s classes may be based on shaky science. BuzzFeed. Retrieved from https://www.buzzfeed.com/tomchivers/what-is-your-mindset?utm_term=.oo0Razv2n#.ht5JOoZv9\nCimpian, A., Mu, Y., and Erickson, L.C. (2012). Who is good at this game? Linking an activity to a social category undermines children\u2019s achievement. Psychological Science 23(5), 533-541.\nClaro, S., Paunesku, D., and Dweck, C.S. (2016). Growth mindset tempers the effects of poverty on academic mindset. PNAS 113(31), 8664-8668.\nDiener, C.I., and Dweck, C.S. (1978). An analysis of learned helplessness: Continuous changes in performance, strategy, and achievement cognitions following failure. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 36(5), 451-462.