Dr. David Yeager: How to Master Growth Mindset to Improve Performance

I have taught kindergarten for 36 years. I have never been more inspired and empowered to teach science, health and physical education than I am now, during my last years as an educator. Thank you Dr. Huberman, guests and commenters.

I rarelly (maybe never) comment on your channel as you read all comments, just wanted to say that you are an amazing teacher for me, very articulate, I love listening tvo your videos that are so interesting, The David Goggins video with the part that grows when doing something you don't like made me finaly move forwards. Your personnal life is your personnal life, I don't gaf. Continue to educate us Mr Hero. You doing great

When I taught first grade i would take time the first day of school and every morning of the year to talk about this. I would begin with drawing of a brain “with no wrinkles” then we would talk about things they have learned and every time I would add a “wrinkle” on either side of the brain and we talked about how every time they practiced something the wrinkle would get longer and deeper and soon connect with other wrinkles. All year long we would talk about wrinkles and connections and apply this idea to everything we learned about. I loved it, and so did they!! Even my lowest students were excited when they finally understood something and knew that their brains were working so hard to make a connection and that it would eventually happen if they didn’t stop trying.

"Mistakes are part of the process" Very important !

00:14 🧠 Growth mindset, as defined by Yeager, is the belief that abilities can change under the right conditions, not just through effort alone. 01:12 🏫 Yeager shares insights on applying growth mindset not only for personal learning but also for educators, coaches, and within various group settings. 04:26 📚 Growth mindset interventions typically involve short sessions aimed at persuading individuals to adopt a different mindset, supported by scientific information, relatable stories, and personal narrative writing. 08:03 🔄 A study by David Yeager and Carol Dweck highlights the difference in response between fixed and growth mindsets when faced with failure, emphasizing the importance of openness to self-improvement. 10:38 💡 Growth mindset interventions aim to change individuals' lay theories, guiding them to interpret challenges as opportunities for growth rather than fixed limitations. 15:27 📝 Writing narratives about overcoming challenges reinforces the lay theory of growth mindset, encouraging individuals to perceive difficulties as temporary and surmountable. 21:02 ⚙ Yeager emphasizes the importance of addressing effort beliefs alongside growth mindset, as the perception of effort as a sign of lacking potential can hinder growth mindset adoption and application. 23:04 📉 Growth mindset research now integrates the physiological aspect of stress and frustration, understanding that interpreting stress properly is crucial for skill development and mental well-being. 24:44 🧠 Marrying growth mindset with stress appraisal psychology helps individuals interpret stress as a resource rather than a hindrance to performance. 28:37 🔄 Reframing stress as a performance enhancer rather than a detriment can lead to a shift in stress physiology and mindset. 32:51 💡 Language deficit exists in how stress is understood and communicated, impacting our ability to interpret physiological arousal effectively. 37:04 🧠 Stressor appraisal distinguishes between the stressor itself and the stress response, offering leverage in managing stress and enhancing performance. 42:56 🔢 Matching perception of demand with belief in resources is key to shifting from a threat to a challenge response to stress, optimizing performance. 45:25 💡 "Mentor mindset" addresses the challenge of motivating individuals while providing critical feedback, balancing high standards with support. 49:17 🧠 The "protector mindset" shields individuals from stress by avoiding high standards, while the "enforcer mindset" sets high standards without support. 50:11 📚 Combining high standards and high support is crucial for effective feedback, fostering growth and motivation. 51:33 💬 Wise feedback, emphasizing high standards and support, isn't about magic phrases but about showing genuine care and respect. 56:04 🧠 Human striving, driven by a pursuit of change and improvement, is deeply rooted in the brain's constant learning process. 01:05:57 🧪 Testosterone levels, rising during adolescence in both genders, are associated with neural changes related to social status seeking and striving. 01:06:37 🔀 Striving reflects a fundamental neural circuit applicable to various pursuits, suggesting potential carryover of growth mindset across different domains of life. 01:07:30 🧠 Growth mindset applies broadly to various traits, but domain-specific mindsets also exist. 01:08:55 🎻 Domain-specific mindsets are more predictive of behavior than general mindsets. 01:09:36 🌍 When addressing sensitive topics, abstract mindset interventions may be more effective than specific ones. 01:13:15 📚 Growth mindset interventions may be more effective for individuals facing challenges in supportive environments. 01:16:04 💼 Combining psychological interventions like growth mindset with sociological considerations can enhance outcomes. 01:17:28 🚀 Growth mindset removes cultural and social barriers, facilitating natural goal pursuit. 01:21:45 🧭 Emotions, particularly affective regions, play a significant role in training the prefrontal cortex for goal pursuit. 01:26:53 📈 Fear of loss can be more motivating than the prospect of gain, influencing decision-making and behavior. 01:29:20 🌱 Fostering an environment where people feel capable of making meaningful contributions can lead to extraordinary outcomes. 01:30:02 💡 Successful mentors and coaches focus on supporting individuals to achieve remarkable goals and shine, rather than instilling fear of failure or loss. 01:31:36 🏀 In professional sports, emphasizing the long-term benefits of skill development and impact on others over fear of loss can motivate athletes to embrace change and excel. 01:32:48 🌍 Embracing a mindset focused on making a positive impact on others or the world can provide deeper satisfaction and fulfillment than merely avoiding loss or seeking personal gain. 01:34:11 📊 Research shows that finding meaning in life through contributions to others is a strong predictor of life satisfaction and well-being. 01:35:07 🧠 Purpose-driven motivation, centered around making a meaningful contribution to others, leads to deeper learning, greater persistence, and higher performance. 01:40:09 🌟 Attaching motivation to making a positive impact on others can transform the experience of effort from a burden to a reward, enhancing both individual satisfaction and societal benefit. 01:50:55 🤝 "Contribution mindset" is about valuing meaningful striving and balance rather than ego-driven obsession with individual stories. 01:52:20 🤝 Combining self-interest with pro-social contributions motivates more than sacrifice for future rewards alone. 01:54:24 🏗 Ethical product design and management practices emphasize quality, integrity, and benefit to users, fostering better work and outcomes. 01:55:35 💼 Encouraging employees to make meaningful contributions beyond their role can lead to personal growth and career advancement. 01:57:13 💡 A culture of growth encourages examining mistakes as part of the learning process, fostering ethical behavior and organizational improvement. 02:00:42 🧠 Hypercriticism or cynicism online might stem from a desire for self-protection rather than genuine contribution or improvement. 02:04:48 🎓 A culture of growth values honesty, critique, and learning from mistakes, fostering individual and collective progress. 02:12:29 🌱 Providing supportive yet demanding critiques fosters growth and development effectively. 02:12:43 💬 Gleaning critique from credible sources is essential for personal and professional growth, highlighting the importance of community support. 02:13:35 🎓 Drive and motivation are valued more than standardized test scores or prior experience in certain academic settings. 02:14:44 💡 Standardized test scores can be inadequate measures of meritocracy and equality of opportunity, often reflecting socio-economic advantages rather than true ability. 02:16:32 🎓 The focus should shift from admissions criteria to post-admission support and mentoring to break the link between past advantages and future success. 02:17:28 🤔 Personal experiences and a desire to make a positive impact mot

One of the best episodes to ever be released. The amount of views is criminal

Top 3 listens - Robert Lustig, Becky Kennedy, and David Yeager. WOW! All three so knowledgeable, and in my professional and personal areas of interest (pediatric neuropsychology). Double listens for all!

Thank you for bringing this vital information to us!! ❤❤❤

I've been waiting for this episode ever since he mentioned inviting Dr. David Yeager onto the podcast last year. Finally.

ONE OF THE BEST HUBERMAN PODCASTS EVER! I am LOCKED IN this is such a great lecture

“The person who knows the why for their existence, is able to bear any how”. Can’t believe how inspiring and powerful this episode is! ❤I was looking forward to see an episode about the “why”, and here it is! I’m in the process of looking for the why myself and trying to get out of depression in the past 5month and this episode just brought me to the new level and made me believe in myself. Than you very much Dr. Huberman and Dr. Yeager.

Here's a masterclass with 2 people that are changing the world beyond measure. So so grateful there are people like you brave enough to actually get in the arena.

Dr Yeager was an absolute delight. I had to watch a couple of times to get all of the gems and appreciated your recall, enquiry and input Dr Huberman as always 🌿.

Thank you Dr. Huberman! You continue to improve our lives weekly! Please keep doing what you do!

Stressed about being stressed, “Metacognitive layered loop of being stuck in your own mind and interpreting your arousal in the worse possible light.” This got me. Wow.

The Huberman Lab podcast has introduced me to ideas that have bettered my life. From a guy that spent all his time computer gaming and drinking, I've gotten really fit, do cold plunges, got my nutrition and sleep on point, and have begun a myriad of other protocols that have drastically improved my wellbeing. Not only that, but I have an understanding of the mechanisms of how they work. I tell my friends about the topics you discuss, and I see changes in them too. There is really nothing else like the Huberman Lab. Thank you so much for you and your team's efforts. ❤

Mondays can be hard to get back into the routine of work but these podcasts Andrew, makes it all so motivating to kick ass this week

Changing lives this man deserves the best.

This was such a beautiful, incredibly meaningful podcast episode. Surprise, surprise, in the lowest period of my life (teenage years), Viktor Frankl's quote, "He who has a why can bear any how," was my anthem. Very apt quote in the Purpose Motivation section, and it sounds like an awesome paper that I'd love to read sometime.

That was a beautiful episode. I understand how rewarding teaching can be. I really miss the sense of satisfaction and peace I had in my life when I was nursing. But 5 years into early retirement, I’ve been pretty lost. So I’m going back to music. It’s the same feeling. It’s the benevolent give and take between you and your audience, your partner, your friends, your colleagues. It really does apply to everything. If your motivation is truly the greater good of the joint venture, good things will come. Thank you both for your work. This is just confirmation that acts of gratitude and kindness can contribute to a happier life.