Some research on Carol S. Dweck led me to confirm that she was the first researcher to coin and popularize the fixed mindset and growth mindset theories (Popova, 2014). It was very helpful for me to read about these theories from the original researcher. After reading \u201cIs Math a Gift? Beliefs that put Females at Risk\u201d by Dweck, a lot of my own opinions about sex differences and stereotypes were refined. I strongly believe that the mindset theories help explain a significant part of the debate over women in science. <\/span><\/p>\n Dweck explains that her research on children\u2019s reactions to challenges helped her to notice a trend among bright female participants. The higher a female participant\u2019s IQ score, the worse she performed on the challenging task. In comparison, \u201cthe higher [a male participant\u2019s] IQ, the better they learned\u201d (47). Since the bright female participants did much better when the task was not as confusing of a challenge, Dweck reasoned that what was influencing the participants was not a poor ability but a flawed mindset. <\/span><\/p>\n Dweck\u2019s next interest was to find the root of the problem, in an attempt to change it (48). Her idea was that in a fixed mindset, people thought of intelligence as a constant ability that was either theirs or not, whereas in a growth mindset, people thought of intelligence as maleable and developed (48). Studying the theory further, she determined that two groups of females experienced different changes. Those who learned with a fixed mindset experienced the stereotypical gender gap in which males outperformed them, but those with a growth mindset performed just as well as the males in their grade. Further studies showed that fixed mindsets can make one more vulnerable to conforming to stereotypes (50), but education about the brain and mindsets can significantly reduce the gender gap between male and female students as it emerges in the beginning of high school (51). <\/span><\/p>\n This reading gave me a lot of information. Before reading the essay, I was under the impression that a fixed mindset is bad and a growth mindset is bad, and that more female people develop fixed mindsets and more male people develop growth mindsets. However, those aren\u2019t the implications that I got from the research now. It seems that both men and women can develop each kind of mindset, but the way in which it interferes with their life is different. <\/span><\/p>\n For females, some stereotypes I\u2019ve heard often are that they are more emotional, are expected to work raising children, and are friendly. For males, the opposites often apply: more logical, expected to work making money, and are imposing. It is sensical that when one believes that peoples\u2019 abilities are neatly placed in boxes, it can be easier to feel like you yourself are being placed in a box. I think it\u2019s critical to understanding the issue of women in science to understand that mindsets influence people\u2019s performance. <\/span><\/p>\n Popova, Maria. \u201cFixed vs. Growth: The Two Basic Mindsets That Shape Our Lives\u201d. Brain Pickings. 29 January 2014. Web. 9 September 2015. <<\/span>http:\/\/www.brainpickings.org\/2014\/01\/29\/carol-dweck-mindset<\/span><\/a>><\/span><\/p>\n![\"caroldweck2\"](\"https:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/fyswns17\/files\/2015\/09\/caroldweck2.jpg\")
<\/a><\/em><\/p>\nDweck\u2019s Research<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Framing My Opinion<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Works Cited<\/h3>\n