The Joy Of Being Wrong
Carol Dweck is an American psychologist most known for the Growth Mindset theory of intelligence and self-efficacy.
Dweck lays out two possible beliefs about one's abilities:
- Ability and intelligence are fixed, determined from birth -- this is called the fixed mindset
- Ability and intelligence are plastic and can be developed with practice -- this is the so-called growth mindset
One very important point is that, for the following results to hold true, it doesn't matter whether ability or intelligence are fixed or plastic: all that Dweck's theory explores is one' beliefs about oneself.
What was found through the research was the following:
People with a fixed mindset -- that believed that intelligence and ability were bestowed upon birth -- tended to avoid challenge and avoid situations where these attributes were put to the test. After all, on these conditions, a low grade or a lower result might signal one's lack of ability.
On the other hand, people with a growth mindset -- that believed that intelligence and ability were developed throughout life -- tended to embrace challenge and learning, seeking situations where their attributes were put to the test.
The results were that, over the course of their lives, the people with growth mindset achieved more than the other cohort (even if, in some cases, individuals with a fixed mindset had some head start by happenstance -- the so-called talent).
Let me emphasise again that there's no need for either (fixed or plastic) theories of intelligence to hold true, just one beliefs about one's own ability has enough effect to be statistically relevant.
In retrospect, it only makes sense: In the appropriate context, a strong signal of being wrong is the most valuable information that any one can hope for.
Being wrong allows for course-correction. Being wrong allows for self-improvement through learning. And you will never be right forever -- the world is too malleable and changes too fast for just about anything to be true or false forever.
In control system theory, there's no way for a open-loop system -- a system without error feedback loops -- to keep its course. The same is true for people.
Prioritising being right, saving face or looking smart over what actually is the case and what most accurately reflects reality is like driving at a high speed, but with one's eyes closed while holding to a delusion they will be able to keep the vehicle on the road.