Transcript Achievement Motivation : Self-Theories

Achievement Motivation :
Self-Theories
Nida Rinthapol
UCSB
November 15, 2008
BMWA Workshop
Based on Carol Dweck’s works
"people develop beliefs
that organize their world
and give meaning to their
experiences. These beliefs
may be called meaning
systems, and different
people create different
meaning systems" (p. 11).
There are two views of
intelligence as learning and
problem solving
competence
Entity View
Incremental View
Entity View of Intelligence
Intelligence is something fixed and
stable.
Entity theorists usually concerned
with “ looking smart” which leading
them to become more performance
oriented.
Learned helplessness: giving up too
easy.
Incremental View
Believe that intelligence is malleable and
changeable.
Intelligence can be increased by putting in
more effort. (keep on trying!)
Emphasis on gaining knowledge more
than just getting good grades. (Learning
Oriented).
When facing failure…..
Entity self-theorists
respond by giving
up: learned
helplessness.
Incremental selftheorists become
more motivated to
improve when
encountering
challenging tasks.
Story of Kenneth Yeh
Chinese immigrant who became a
millionaire when he was 28 years
old.
BS from UCLA in Computer
Engineering and went on to get his
MS from USC.
Let’s see what he has to say…….
Why are these self theories
important for improving schooling
outcomes of diverse students?
Teachers and counselors need to inculcate
incremental self-theories in supporting
learning
Parents as well need to be informed about
self-theories
Need to understand how cultural traditions
might intersect with self-theories