Po Bronson’s latest New York Magazine article reports the results of numerous studies showing that praise can be detrimental.
In one study, students were given a fairly easy test. When the test results were presented, the researcher also told one randomly chosen group that they must be very smart. The remaining students were praised for their hard work. Both groups of students were then given a second test in which the students were allowed to pick a problem to solve. The kids that had been called smart picked easy problems, and the kids told they were hard workers picked challenging problems. Emphasizing the hard worker’s efforts had given them something they could control in a positive way. The smart kids options were limited. They were forced to skirt challenges to avoid ruining their “smart” reputation. The hard workers also outscored the smart kids on a third test given to both groups.
Another set of researchers unexpectedly found that performance drops immediately after praise is given. Apparently, we become self-conscious, and some of our attention is diverted to our self-image rather than the task.
In a third series of studies two groups of kids were taught study skills, but one group was additionally taught that that the brain is a muscle that can be built up with exercise. The performance of both groups improved, but the group that believed that intelligence is not an innate ability outperformed the group without that knowledge.
Summary
- Compliment people on their hard work, not their intelligence.
- Don’t interrupt someone, even to compliment them.
- Understand that brains rewire themselves based on how you use them.
:: David Shenk
