Achievement Motivation :Achievement Motivation :

SelfSelf--TheoriesTheories

Nida RinthapolNida RinthapolUCSBUCSB

November 15, 2008November 15, 2008BMWA WorkshopBMWA Workshop

Based on Carol Dweck’s worksBased on Carol Dweck’s works"people develop beliefs that "people develop beliefs that organize their world and organize their world and give meaning to their give meaning to their experiences. These beliefs experiences. These beliefs may be called meaning may be called meaning systems, and differentsystems, and different

people create different people create different meaning systems" (p. 11).meaning systems" (p. 11).

There are two views of There are two views of intelligence as learning and intelligence as learning and problem solving competenceproblem solving competence

Entity ViewEntity View

Incremental ViewIncremental View

Entity View of IntelligenceEntity View of IntelligenceIntelligence is something fixed and Intelligence is something fixed and stable.stable.

Entity theorists usually concerned Entity theorists usually concerned with “ looking smart” which leading with “ looking smart” which leading them to become more performance them to become more performance oriented. oriented.

Learned helplessness: giving up too Learned helplessness: giving up too easy.easy.

Incremental ViewIncremental ViewBelieve that intelligence is malleable and Believe that intelligence is malleable and changeable. changeable.

Intelligence can be increased by putting in Intelligence can be increased by putting in more effort. (keep on trying!)more effort. (keep on trying!)

Emphasis on gaining knowledge more than Emphasis on gaining knowledge more than just getting good grades. (Learning just getting good grades. (Learning Oriented). Oriented).

When facing failure…..When facing failure…..Entity self-theorists Entity self-theorists respond by giving respond by giving up: learned up: learned helplessness.helplessness.

Incremental self- Incremental self- theorists become theorists become more motivated to more motivated to improve when improve when encountering encountering challenging tasks. challenging tasks.

Story of Kenneth YehStory of Kenneth Yeh Chinese immigrant who became a Chinese immigrant who became a millionaire when he was 28 years old. millionaire when he was 28 years old.

BS from UCLA in Computer BS from UCLA in Computer Engineering and went on to get his Engineering and went on to get his MS from USC. MS from USC.

Let’s see what he has to say……. Let’s see what he has to say…….

Why are these self theories Why are these self theories important for improving schooling important for improving schooling outcomes of diverse students? outcomes of diverse students?

Teachers and counselors need to inculcate Teachers and counselors need to inculcate incremental self-theories in supporting incremental self-theories in supporting learninglearning

Parents as well need to be informed about Parents as well need to be informed about self-theoriesself-theories

Need to understand how cultural traditions Need to understand how cultural traditions might intersect with self-theoriesmight intersect with self-theories