CFS135 Ch. 4 (Exam 2)

Communication Between Teaching New Skills

How did the self-esteem movement (1969) shape parent-child interactions?

• It pushed parents/teachers to constantly praise kids & avoid criticism to boost confidence

• Every child got trophies, medals, & over-the-top praise

• Research later showed this was wrong:

  • Self-esteem doesn’t cause success, success raises self-esteem

  • Inflated self-esteem can lead to narcissism or aggression

What is the primary argument of social development theory?

• Vygotsky’s theory: learning happens in relationships

• Zone of Proximal Development - The gap between what a child can do alone vs. what they can do with guidance

  • A more knowledgeable other (ex: parent) teaches within the child’s ZPD, providing help the child can’t yet do alone

How does scaffolding promote learning?

• Scaffolding = temporary support (modeling, prompts, questions, feedback)

• Parents gradually remove support as skills grow

  • ex: training wheels for bikes

• Effective scaffolding predicts later academic success

Helpless Orientations

• Avoids challenges

• Focuses on performance goals

• Fixed mindset

• Feels anxious/bored

• Performance declines

  • ex: “I’m just not smart”

Mastery Orientations

• Embraces challenges

• Focuses on learning goals

• Growth mindset

• Feels excited

• Performance improves

  • ex: “I can learn with effort”

Evaluative Praise

• Person-centered judgments about traits (ex: “you’re smart!”)

  • Leads to dependency & fixed mindset

Descriptive Praise

• Specific, realistic praise about effort/strategy

  • ex: “I saw you kept practicing until you got it”

Person-centered Feedback

• ex: “You’re smart”, “you’re lazy”

  • Fixed mindset

  • Helpless orientation

Process-centered Feedback

• Focused on effort/strategy

• ex: “You worked hard on this”

  • Growth mindset

  • Mastery orientation

Encouragement

• Supportive feedback to build persistence, similar to descriptive praise

What is the effect of offering criticism to children when they are learning?

• Criticism can help if process-centered

  • But person-centered criticism harms mindset & relationships

Fixed Mindset (Dweck)

• Belief that intelligence/ability is unchangeable

  • Avoids challenges, helpless orientation

Growth Mindset (Dweck)

• Belief intelligence/ability can grow through effort

  • Embraces challenges, mastery orientation

Performance Goals

• Goals aimed at appearing capable or gaining approval

• Linked to helpless orientation

Learning Goals

• Goals focused on skill development & understanding

• Support mastery orientation