By Dr. Jill Caruso
What does it mean to have a fixed mindset?
Carol Dweck (Mindsets, 2007) defined this term as…
“Individuals believe their basic abilities, their intelligence, their talents are just fixed traits…A fixed mindset prevents you from failing in the short run but in the long run, it hinders your ability to learn, grow and develop new skills.”
Have you ever felt like you had to give up because you didn’t have the ability to solve a problem? Has your child ever quit an activity or a sport? What was your response to these scenarios? When you give yourself the option that you don’t have the ability to handle a problem you are setting a model for future scenarios. When children are given the option to quit, if they believe they will not immediately excel, they will continue to perform this learned pattern throughout their life. How they handle the struggle may determine their future success in academics, sports, and future careers.
Recent research has shown that someone with a fixed mindset is more focused on the judgment that is made about their actions. They want to prove that they have the ability to do something, but if they do not have that ability they are more likely to avoid the situation where they do not expect to be successful. The outcome is the only thing that matters, not the process.
Individuals need to know that the intelligence they are born with is not fixed but has great potential and grows as they get older with their new experiences and insight into problem-solving.
Carol Dweck (2007), defined a Growth Mindset as…
“A Growth mindset is the understanding that abilities and intelligence can be developed.”
With the thought that skills can be managed and improved, and are not stagnate, adults, teenagers, and children can understand that they have greater potential. Someone with a growth mindset will turn towards problem-solving when confronted with a challenge. By incorporating a problem-solving mindset you can outperform your peers and help your children with future skills to outperform their peers. Instead of a mistake stopping you and hindering you from moving forward, you will begin to learn from the mistake and keep moving forward.
Come join us at the Reducing Stress and Achieving the Right Mindsets for Yourself and Your Child workshop on Saturday, April 13th to learn more about fixed and growth mindsets and additional ways to aid in your own growth and your child’s success in and out of the classroom.
Dr. Caruso is an Assistant Director with Specialized Therapy Associates (STA), in Paramus, N.J. She began working at STA with over 10 years of experience in practicing psychology, specializing in working with children, adolescents, and young adults. Her specialization has focused on treating a wide variety of concerns including depression, anxiety, relationship issues, and other life stressors.
Before coming to STA, Dr. Caruso worked as a School psychologist focusing on the learning styles of students with special needs. She also specialized in coping mechanisms for anxiety and depression experienced in the school system by students, teachers, and staff. Some of her research has focused on the impact that mindfulness had on parents of children with special needs. Other research she has focused on looking at the impact that electronics/media have on individuals, both mentally and physically. She thoroughly enjoys this work and is now working on specializing in the care of individuals within the LGBTQ community as well as identification of how individuals learn and their current behaviors.
Dr. Caruso practices person-centered psychotherapy and utilizes positive psychology, empowerment, and relational approaches to therapy, as well as Cognitive Behavioral approaches. She values diversity in all forms, including race, ethnicity, sexual identity and gender expression, and sexuality. She looks at each person as a unique individual considering all factors that contribute to the issue at hand and views therapy as a partnership with her client. She focuses on creating a safe and welcoming environment where clients feel as comfortable as possible.
She received her Bachelor’s in Psychology at William Paterson University and her Master’s in Psychology and School Psychology Certification from Montclair State University. She received her doctorate in psychology from St. Elizabeth University with a focus on Social Justice. She also is currently an adjunct professor at the St. Elizabeth University working in the Master’s programs focused on Theory development, Psychopathology and Diagnosis, Child Development, and Introduction to counseling. She also works with the undergraduate program on incorporating Mindfulness, and Positive Psychology to achieve a work/life balance.
Dr. Caruso has provided numerous training and workshops to professionals on a variety of issues. During the pandemic, Dr. Caruso has worked on completing evaluations virtually to help identify issues with executive functioning, ADHD, and identification of dementia with her patients.
