Carol Dweck on Perfectionism

LECTURE @THE SCHOOL OF LIFE: Striving for self-perfection is considered a high virtue. And, as one of the world's leading psychologists, we might assume Carol Dweck is a paragon of self-perfectionism. That is, until her lab studies revealed the irony that wanting to be perfect stops people reaching their potential.

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[marvanbee]

I love her pace; allows me time to think about things while also listening to her. Great topic.

[brionreid]

At 15:43 when she says roughly that a fixed mindset can interpret even putting forth effort as admitting "imperfection" really just hit home. Beautiful insight and also ow. : )

[Brenda-ufpk]

Now that I am conscious of my type of perfectionism I have the power to move forward. Self-Knowledge leading me to the light instead of blindly walking around hoping for the best.

[Gosamkoh]

I really enjoyed her pacing of the speech; different from now-a-days speakers.

Thank you for this speech

[ethan-]

This is an amazing talk! My eyes have been opened to truths and ideas that I had never thought about it. Thank you, School of Life and also Carol Dweck, for this video. I'm lost for words.

[sun.sh.in.e]

Thank you so much for your lecture Carol! I have been feeling extremely depressed, lost, and anxious lately and you’ve just given me the answers and insight I’ve been looking for. I feel so much more at peace now.

[beatriceafatsawo]

I have been feeling depressed, anxious and lost sometime now after college . This video has taught me a lot about myself and my thinking path . Thanks so much Prof Carol Dweck and the producers of this program . I am grateful I found this

[satnamo]

De struggle itself toward perfection is enough to fill a man’s heart.

I must imagine Sisyphus happy.

[Lily-khdc]

This message was meant for me this morning. Was contemplating quitting my long term plan because there's an easier way out. I listened all the way through. Thanks Carol for a clear and practical talk. Pity that this gem of a video hasn't reached more people.

[sophiabeglari]

INCREDIBLE VIDEO!! I struggle with an actually paralyzing fixed mindset. I want to change and start growing. :) thanks school of life and Carol Dwek!

[ashooaway]

This was a great talk and has aged like fine wine. The summary I'd give (but please listen to this as a podcast) is you'll do better by focusing on becoming the best version of you, as oppose to being perfect.

[escturtle]

Although there should be more value on "growth, " our current grading system in schools value how "perfect" one is at the time of a test or at the time homework is turned in. If the student can not "quickly" enough get All of the homework completed and "perfectly" or test questions answered "perfectly, " then the grade suffers. This feeds the "perfectionism" anxiety and there is no time for "growth" to happen for the student without the penalty to their grade. Students will only be able to more happily learn with a "growth" mindset when the current grading system is eliminated.

[adriana]

She seems to be talking about the extremes, the pathological fixed mindset and the very accomplished people with a growth mindset, perhaps for simplification purposes. I can see how most ‘perfectionists’ might gravitate on a scale between these extremes and probably express both mindsets, sometimes at the same time, in various degrees.

[lilijimenez]

Thank you for this. I had never heard of these two different types of mindsets. A lot of things clicked and it’s the biggest gift in the world to know nothing is permanent nor set on stone.

[brianeduardo]

Perfectionism leads to paralysis - often they achieve little you do your best and be considerate of others

[jocelynmuch]

This is a brilliant must watch presentation

[willyvan]

In Colombia, and probably other Latin countries, we have a saying that goes “lo perfecto es enemigo de lo bueno” which translate to “perfect things are the enemy of good things” I feel like she did a marvelous job of elaborating on that.

[mtsbrz]

Wow! Thanks a lot! Really, I don't have any better words to say how thankful I am for this speech. 

[danlc]

I was recently speaking to my significant other about how things that came easy to me, I mastered, ans things that didn't, I avoided. if I can't do it perfectly, I won't do it at all.

[johnharvey]

Great video. What it leaves out is the gradations or shades of fix to growth mindset. It is not a "Black or white" thing as in you either have it or your don't. Everyone watching this video has a growth mindset regardless of how familiar the fixed mindset patterns are to you. Why? because you are watching this which is growth... This is the same as Steven Koltlers research on "flow states" which also have degrees of which we access flow rather than a in or out state off or on experiencing.