Do you tell yourself, “No way, can I do that. I am not smart or talented enough. Why try?”

Do you focus on the outcome only? If your hard work did not yield the result that you wanted, do you think it was all for nothing? Your view of yourself can determine everything. Do you believe that your qualities are unchangeable? Then, most likely, you have a fixed mindset.

A fixed mindset is the belief that abilities are innate and unchangeable. This perspective leads individuals to view success or failure as a reflection of inherent proficiency, often limiting personal growth.

The concept of mindset refers to our beliefs about how our intelligence, talents, and personal traits shape how we handle challenges, ultimately affecting our ability to achieve our goals.

American Psychologist Carol Dweck is credited with the mindset theory.  Through her research at Stanford University, she determined that there are two types of mindsets: fixed and growth. In 2006, her research culminated and was featured in her book, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success,

Dweck studies human motivation.  Her work bridges developmental, social and personality psychologies. The research she has conducted examined the self-conceptions (or mindsets) people use to structure self and guide their behavior.

Dweck asked, what are the consequences of thinking that your intelligence or personality is something you can develop, as opposed to something that is a fixed, deep-seated trait?

Dweck wrote that, in a fixed a mindset, an individual’s intelligence is static. They avoid challenges. They give up easily when faced with obstacles. They do not make an effort as they see effort as fruitless or worse.  Forget about criticism. Those with a fixed mindset ignore useful negative feedback. If they observe the success of others, they feel threatened.

That is some way to live! Your mindset is not just a “hand you are dealt” in life.

Dweck noted in her book, that if you have a fixed mindset, everything is about the outcome. If you fail—or if you’re not the best—it’s all been wasted.

“People with a fixed mindset are out to prove themselves, and may get very defensive when someone suggests they made a mistake—in other words, they measure themselves by their failures,” wrote Gary Klein, Ph.D.

Through Klein’s research on the nature of insight, he turned up a critical differences between people and organizations who concentrate on ways to reduce errors. The first group of people and organizations had a preoccupation with errors believed that the only way to improve performance is by reducing errors. This view seems to fit the fixed mindset paradigm. Whereas, the second group of individuals and organizations believed that performance improvement depended on both cutting errors and making insights, and discoveries based on those errors. This perspective maps onto the growth mindset.

According to Jeff Waller, creator and founder 7 Mindsets, there are 3 big problems of a fixed mindset:

• It decreases self-knowledge-A fixed mindset puts emphasis on external rewards and validations.
• It inhibits risk taking-Fear of perceived price of failure. Those with a fixed mindset tend to settle for less due to their fear of failure.
• It causes unhealthy competition-

“Fixed mindsets make us hypersensitive to lack and scarcity,” wrote Walter.  “We see reality TV stars making millions, and feel we have to do something extraordinary and highly public with our lives or we are somehow failing. We compare ourselves to external ideals in every aspect of life… our jobs, our bodies, the people we associate with, and the fortunes we amass.”

According to Dr. Lauren Braithwaite, people with a fixed mindset tend to be more afraid to take risks because they fear failure.

Intellectual risk-taking behaviors:

• Sharing ideas with other people
• Asking questions
• Attempting to learn new things.

Many of these behaviors can be difficult for someone with a fixed mindset. They may not see how these actions could contribute to their intelligence as they think their intelligence is unchangeable, noted Braithwaite.

“Mindsets are powerful, and shifting them can be sudden and transformative,” wrote Klein.

In my next blog post, I will highlight the “growth mindset.”

Resources:

Image by vectorjuice on Freepik retrieved on 3/14/2026 from https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/business-idea-generation-plan-development-pensive-man-with-lightbulb-cartoon-character-technical-mindset-entrepreneurial-mind-brainstorming-process_11668582.htm

Braithwaite, Ph.D. Ed, Lauren.  “Fixed Mindset.” The Decision Lab. Retrieved on 3/7/2026 from https://thedecisionlab.com/reference-guide/psychology/fixed-mindset

Briceño, Eduardo. The Performance Paradox: The Unexpected Way to Grind Less, Grow More, and Unlock Success. Paperback. Ballantine Books ©2025.

Dweck, Ph.D., Carol S. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success: How We Can Learn to Fulfill Our Potential. Ballentine Books, NY. ©2006.

Dweck, Ph.D. Carol S. “Developing a Growth Mindset with Carol Dweck.” Video. Retrieved on 3/7/2026 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiiEeMN7vbQ

Dweck, Ph.D. Carol. “Carol Dweck: A Summary of Growth and Fixed Mindsets.” Retrieved on 3/7/2026 from https://fs.blog/carol-dweck-mindset/

Huberman, Andrew. “How Feedback Affects Performance-Andrew Huberman-Growth Mindset.”  After Skool. 5/28/2024. Retrieved on 3/7/2026 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9ewjjzAlRs

Klein, Ph.D. Gary. “Mindsets: What are they and why they matter.” 5/1/2016. Retrieved on 3/7/2026 from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/seeing-what-others-dont/201605/mindsets

Waller, Jeff. “A Mix of Growth and Fixed Mindset Have Gotten Us Where We Are.” Retrieved on 3/14/2026 from https://7mindsets.com/fixed-mindset/