Carol Susan Dweck is a preeminent scholar in psychological science whose pioneering work has reshaped understanding of human motivation and learning. She currently serves as the Lewis and Virginia Eaton Professor of Psychology at Stanford University, a position she has held since 2004 after distinguished faculty appointments at Columbia University, Harvard University, and the University of Illinois. Born on October 17, 1946 in Brooklyn, New York, Dweck earned her undergraduate degree magna cum laude from Barnard College in 1967 before completing her Ph.D. in psychology at Yale University in 1972. Her academic journey began at the University of Illinois where she rose to associate professor before moving to Harvard's Laboratory of Human Development in 1981, then returning to Illinois, and later joining Columbia University in 1989.
Dweck's groundbreaking research on mindsets has revolutionized educational psychology by revealing how beliefs about intelligence fundamentally shape achievement and resilience. Her seminal work contrasting fixed and growth mindsets demonstrates that individuals who believe abilities can be developed through effort outperform those who view intelligence as static, particularly when facing challenges. This paradigm-shifting theory, detailed in her influential 2006 book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, has been translated into seventeen languages and has profoundly impacted educational practices worldwide. Dweck's empirical research has shown that praising children for effort rather than intelligence fosters resilience and learning, challenging conventional wisdom about motivation and achievement.
Beyond her scholarly contributions, Dweck has significantly influenced educational policy and practice through extensive outreach to teachers, parents, and educational leaders globally. Her research has been featured prominently in major media outlets including The New Yorker, The New York Times, and The Washington Post, with appearances on Today, Good Morning America, and 20/20 that have brought psychological science to broad audiences. Elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2012 and receiving numerous prestigious awards including the APS William James Fellow award, Dweck continues to advance her research on motivation while mentoring the next generation of psychologists. Her work remains foundational to contemporary approaches in education, business, and sports psychology, demonstrating the enduring power of psychological principles to transform human potential.
