I found this to be very insightful, as I am not familiar with the cited research. It brings to mind my own memories of growing up, and how being told how "smart," I was could actually act as a hindrance.
As the article notes, I was only praised when I got a correct answer, or used a big word without stumbling. In one particular memory, I am afraid of taking a new mathematics placement test in school -- not because of the difficulty, but precisely because I had gotten a perfect score on the last one. There was no room to grow, if I didn't get them all right again, would that make me not "smart?"
Very simple changes in the language we use with young children could possibly avoid that kind of anxiety in bright youth.
As the article notes, I was only praised when I got a correct answer, or used a big word without stumbling. In one particular memory, I am afraid of taking a new mathematics placement test in school -- not because of the difficulty, but precisely because I had gotten a perfect score on the last one. There was no room to grow, if I didn't get them all right again, would that make me not "smart?"
Very simple changes in the language we use with young children could possibly avoid that kind of anxiety in bright youth.