Write for an Academic Discussion
You have 10 minutes. Your professor is teaching a class on psychology. Write a post responding to the professor's question. Express and support your opinion and make a contribution to the discussion in your own words. Write at least 100 words.
Today we are looking at how adults' words affect children's motivation. Some researchers argue that when parents and teachers praise children for being smart or talented, the children become afraid of failing and avoid difficult tasks. They suggest praising effort and strategies instead, for example by saying "You worked really hard on that." Others think this advice is exaggerated. In your opinion, should adults focus on praising children's effort rather than their intelligence or talent? Why or why not?
Yes. I was always told I was "the smart one" in my family, and when I got to high school and something was hard for me, I felt like I was a fraud. If my parents had praised my effort instead, I think I would have seen difficulty as a normal part of learning rather than a sign that I was not smart.
I think praising effort can also go wrong. Children are not stupid; if they try hard and still get a bad result, telling them "great effort" can feel empty. Sometimes a child really does have a talent, and recognizing it can give them confidence to keep developing it.
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