The strongest predictor for success | Angela Lee Duckworth
What Predicts Success?
Introduction to Grit
- The speaker questions the common belief that success in school and life is solely based on quick learning abilities.
- Research conducted across various challenging environments reveals that grit—defined as passion and perseverance for long-term goals—is a significant predictor of success, surpassing factors like social intelligence, physical health, and IQ.
Research Findings on Grit
- A study involving high school juniors in Chicago demonstrated that students with higher levels of grit were more likely to graduate, regardless of other measured characteristics such as family income or standardized test scores.
- This finding indicates that grit is crucial not only in elite settings like West Point or the National Spelling Bee but also in educational contexts, particularly for at-risk students.
Building Grit in Children
- Parents and teachers frequently inquire about methods to cultivate grit in children.
- The concept of "growth mindset," developed by Carol Dweck at Stanford University, emerges as an effective strategy. It posits that learning ability can improve through effort and resilience against failure.