Donna and her friend Esther both receive D's on a Calculus midterm. Donna becomes depressed and seems to give up on her studies for some time thereafter. Esther, however, becomes driven to learn more about Calculus and earn a better grade on the next test. Which of the following statements best describes the mind-sets of Donna and Esther?
A) Donna has a growth mind-set, whereas Esther has a fixed mind-set.
B) Donna has a fixed mind-set, whereas Esther has a growth mind-set.
C) Donna and Esther have fixed mind-sets.
D) Donna and Esther have growth mind-sets.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Donna's reaction to the D suggests that she believes her ability is fixed and cannot be changed by effort, whereas Esther's reaction suggests that she believes that effort can improve her abilities. Therefore, Donna has a fixed mind-set, and Esther has a growth mind-set.

Donna and Her Friend Esther Both Receive D's on a Calculus