Originally Posted by sweetpeas
...discussing the issue of telling a child he or she is "smart"...
You may already know about the book Mindset by Carol Dweck? It is nicely summarized in these youtube videos:
Ashley Merryman & Po Bronson: The Myth of Praise (link-
)
Carol Dweck: Teaching a Growth Mindset (link-
)
One aspect or application of a fixed mindset is that some kids, in order to be seen as "right" or "smart", may stop taking appropriate risks, possibly shunning a challenge and preferring easy work which may represent a level of underachievement. A fixed mindset may work against them and be exhibited as a lack of resilience.