How Not to Talk to Your Kids Article by Po Bronson (from New York magazine—February 2007)
The Inverse Power of Praise
According to a survey conducted by Columbia University, 85 percent of American
parents think it’s important to tell their kids that they’re smart. But recent
research conducted by psychologist Carol Dweck at Columbia University strongly
suggests it might be the other way around. Giving kids the label of “smart” does
not prevent them from underperforming. It might actually be causing it.