Growth Mindset Have you heard of that some compliments might be bad for kids? Psychologist Carol Dweck and her colleagues practiced an experiment to figure out the effect of compliments. At first, kids are given easy problem set most kids are supposed to find its answer. Then, kids are randomly categorized into two groups; one is experiment group, and the other is control group. Each group receives different compliments about correct answer. Control group is praised on their smartness such as “You’re so smart to solve the problems”. On the contrary, experiment group is complimented on their effort such as “You tried hard to solve the problem.” After the compliment, two types of problem sets are given to each group. One of the problem sets are as easy as the former problem set. The other problem set is very difficult, and most kids are not supposed to solve this. Researchers let kids select a problem set they want to solve. Difference between two groups was remarkable. Most kids in control group(complimented on their smartness) chose the easy problem set. On the other hand, kids in experiment group(complimented on their effort) preferred the difficult problem set. Dweck interpreted that the way of compliment affected how kids perceived failure. To control group, failure shows their lack of smartness. As a result they were afraid of failure, and that’s why they preferred the easy problem set. On the contrary, to experiment group, failure is an opportunity to struggle with. Dweck developed a theory from this experiment called “growth mindset”. People with growth mindset are corresponded with experiment group. They believe their abilities grow by practicing, so failures or challenging situations are opportunities they can grow. On the contrary, people with fixed mindset believe human is born with limited abilities which don’t change for life and failures show insufficient abilities. Naturally, people with fixed mindset are away from challenges. She has proven her theory in various levels from in preschool classrooms to graduate classes and tried to find practical methods for education. In short, praising on their brain is bad for kids as well as adults. Praise on their effort that they may try challenging problems. Human brain is feasible and dynamically responds with stimulations. Our intellectual abilities can grow no matter how old we are. Failure means we tried and are growing now. That’s what science says.