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KS3 Psychology

Growth mindset and motivation

50 questions5 subtopics
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What's covered

Fixed vs growth mindset10
Habits and willpower10
Motivation — why we do things10
Resilience and bouncing back10
Setting goals10

Key facts

1

Fixed vs growth mindset

The psychologist Carol Dweck introduced the idea of fixed and growth mindsets.

2

Habits and willpower

The idea that any habit forms in exactly 21 days is a popular myth, not a scientific finding.

3

Motivation — why we do things

Dopamine is a brain chemical linked to reward, pleasure and motivation.

4

Resilience and bouncing back

Asking for help when you are struggling is a sign of resilience, not weakness.

5

Setting goals

Breaking a big goal into small steps makes it feel manageable instead of overwhelming.

6

Fixed vs growth mindset

In a growth mindset, effort is seen as the way to get better at something.

7

Habits and willpower

The basal ganglia is the brain region that turns repeated actions into automatic habits.

8

Motivation — why we do things

Dopamine is released when we expect a reward, not only when we get it.

9

Resilience and bouncing back

Calming strategies like deep breathing can help you manage stress in a difficult moment.

10

Setting goals

Celebrating small steps and effort keeps you motivated when things feel hard.

Sample questions

A taste of the 50 questions in this topic, answers marked. Sign up to practise the full set with spaced repetition.

1Fixed vs growth mindset

What is a growth mindset?

  • •Always finishing tests first
  • ✓Believing abilities can improve
  • •Believing abilities never change
  • •Never making any mistakes
2Habits and willpower

What are the three parts of the habit loop?

  • •Cue, effort, willpower
  • ✓Cue, routine, reward
  • •Goal, routine, streak
  • •Trigger, reward, sleep
3Motivation — why we do things

What does intrinsic motivation mean?

  • •Doing something because a teacher told you to
  • ✓Doing something because you enjoy it
  • •Doing something to avoid being punished
  • •Doing something to earn a prize or reward
4Resilience and bouncing back

What does the word resilience mean?

  • •Always getting things right first time
  • •Avoiding any challenge that seems hard
  • ✓Bouncing back from difficulties
  • •Never feeling upset about anything
5Setting goals

What is a goal?

  • •A reward someone else gives you
  • •A rule you must always follow
  • •Something you have already finished
  • ✓Something you work towards
6Fixed vs growth mindset

What is a fixed mindset?

  • •Believing talents always improve
  • ✓Believing talents cannot change
  • •Enjoying every hard challenge
  • •Learning quickly from mistakes

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