A Critical Study of Angela Duckworth’s Grit:

The Power of Passion and Perseverance

 

Shubha Tiwari¹, Kiran Verma²

¹Vice-Chancellor, Maharaja Chhatrasal Bundelkhand Universitry, Chhatarpur, (M.P) India.

²Research Scholar, Department of English, A.P.S University, Rewa (M.P) India.

 

ABSTRACT:

Grit is indeed characterized by having a strong passion and perseverance for long-term goals. It goes beyond simply putting in effort and includes the ability to persist and maintain determination in the face of challenges and setbacks. Grit involves a combination of effort, patience, and resilience. It's about staying committed and focused on your objectives, even when things get tough. Gritty individuals are not easily discouraged by obstacles or failures; instead, they see them as opportunities for growth and learning. Having grit can be beneficial in various aspects of life, whether it's personal goals, academic pursuits, professional endeavors, or even relationships. People with high levels of grit are more likely to stay motivated and continue striving for their goals, even when progress seems slow or when faced with adversity. It's important to note that grit is not about blindly persisting without adaptability or recognizing when it's necessary to change course. It's about finding the balance between perseverance and flexibility, knowing when to adjust strategies or approaches while still maintaining a steadfast commitment to the overall objective. Developing and nurturing grit can contribute to greater resilience, achievement, and personal growth. It allows individuals to navigate challenges and setbacks with a determined mindset, increasing their likelihood of success in the long run.

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

Angela Lee Duckworth is an American academic, psychologist, and popular science author. She was born in 1970 and has made notable contributions to the field of psychology, particularly in the areas of grit and self-control. As a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, Duckworth has conducted extensive research on grit, which she defines as the combination of passion and perseverance for long-term goals. Her studies have explored the impact of grit on various aspects of life, such as academic achievement, professional success, and personal development.

 

Duckworth's work has gained widespread recognition and has been featured in numerous academic journals and media outlets. She has also given popular TED Talks on the topic of grit, which have garnered millions of views. In addition to her academic pursuits, Duckworth is the Founder and CEO of Character Lab, a non-profit organization that aims to advance the science and practice of character development. Through Character Lab, she provides resources and tools for educators, parents, and policymakers to foster character strengths like grit, self-control, and resilience in individuals. Duckworth has also authored a book titled, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance (2016) where she delves deeper into her research findings and provides practical insights and strategies for cultivating grit in oneself and others. Her work has had a significant impact on our understanding of human motivation, achievement, and character development. She continues to be a prominent figure in the field of psychology and a leading voice in advocating for the importance of grit in pursuing long-term goals.

 

DISCUSSION:

Angela Duckworth (2016) says that: “To be gritty is to keep putting one foot in front of the other. To be gritty is to hold fast to an interesting and purposeful goal. To be gritty is to invest, day after week after year, in challenging practice” (275). She is indeed best known for her extensive research on grit. She has defined grit as the combination of passion and perseverance for long-term goals. One of her notable contributions to the field is the development of the Grit Scale, which is a measurement tool to assess an individual's level of grit. Duckworth's research has consistently shown that grit is a significant factor among high achievers. Interestingly, she has found that grit is unrelated to IQ (intelligence quotient) but is closely associated with conscientiousness, which is a personality trait characterized by being diligent, organized and responsible. While Duckworth has studied grit across different stages of life, she particularly emphasizes the importance of developing grit in adolescents. Her work falls within the broader context of character education, which emphasizes the inclusion of non-cognitive factors in school curricula. By focusing on the cultivation of grit, Duckworth advocates for the idea that character strengths are crucial for success and well-being, alongside cognitive abilities. Her research and advocacy have influenced discussions and practices in education, with an increasing recognition of the importance of nurturing qualities like grit, self-control, resilience, and other character strengths in students. By expanding the focus beyond academic achievement, educators and policymakers are recognizing the value of character development in preparing students for success in various aspects of life.

 

Angela Lee Duckworth's book Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance was released in May (2016). It received considerable attention and acclaim, staying on The New York Times bestseller list for 21 weeks. A review of the book in The New York Times called Duckworth "the psychologist who has made 'grit' the reigning buzzword in education-policy circles" (Judith 01). The book generated significant interest, particularly in education-policy circles, where Duckworth's research on grit has had a profound impact. The concept of grit became a prominent topic of discussion and application in educational settings, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and passion in student achievement and success. A review of the book in The New York Times highlighted Duckworth's influence as a psychologist and referred to her as the key figure who popularized the term "grit" in the field of education-policy. The review acknowledged the impact of Duckworth's work and the widespread recognition of "grit" as a concept in discussions surrounding student motivation, character development, and academic outcomes. Judith Shulevitz in The New York Times Book Review, retrieved August 16, 2016:

 

Angela Duckworth [is] the psychologist who has made 'grit' the reigning buzzword in education-policy circles...Duckworth's ideas about the cultivation of tenacity have clearly changed some lives for the better...In this book, Duckworth, whose TED talk has been viewed more than eight million times, brings her lessons to the reading public.(01)

 

The measurement of character strengths, particularly grit, has indeed garnered attention since the introduction of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) in 2015. The ESSA emphasized the importance of assessing non-academic factors, such as character, in evaluating student success. However, Angela Duckworth, a leading researcher on grit, has urged caution when it comes to applying and testing character in educational settings, particularly in high-stakes situations like college admissions or job applications.  In "Measurement matters: Assessing personal qualities other than cognitive ability for educational purposes" Duckworth and  Yeager (2015) claim that,  “One reason for this caution is the lack of reliable and standardized measures specifically designed to assess character strengths in such contexts.” (237–251).

 

Carol Dweck’s work The significance of grit: A conversation with Angela Lee Duckworth, (2013) demonstrates that individuals can shift from a fixed mindset (believing abilities are fixed and unchangeable) to a growth mindset through interventions and deliberate practice. Duckworth and her colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania are developing an intervention based on Dweck's work. This intervention aims to make students aware of the value of deliberate practice. Deliberate practice involves engaging in focused, effortful practice to improve skills and overcome challenges. The intervention requires teachers to emphasize the importance of practice and its associated difficulties, such as confusion, frustration, and the need to repeat tasks. By providing this information and framing the challenges of learning as normal and necessary, the intervention aims to help students develop a growth mindset and embrace the process of deliberate practice. Ultimately, it seeks to foster tenacity, hard work, and resilience in students, leading to their personal and academic growth.

 

CONCLUSION:

The pursuit of engagement and meaning in life is associated with both aspects of grit, meaning that individuals who actively seek out meaningful experiences and are driven by a sense of purpose are more likely to exhibit grit in their endeavors. On the other hand, the desire for immediate pleasure, which emphasizes seeking instant gratification and short-term enjoyment, can undermine sustained effort and focused interests over time. This suggests that a deeper understanding of these motivational factors can be used to inform interventions aimed at increasing grit. By targeting the specific motivations that contribute to perseverance of effort and consistency of interest, interventions can be designed to enhance grit, which in turn promotes long-term resilience and achievement. In essence, the findings highlight the importance of focusing on meaningful engagement and cultivating intrinsic motivation to foster the development of grit. Prioritizing immediate pleasure, which often involves seeking instant rewards and avoiding discomfort, may hinder the sustained effort and dedication required to overcome challenges and achieve long-term goals. Moreover this book has brought attention to the significance of grit as a psychological strength and its potential impact on personal development and achievement. It has sparked conversations about character education and the need to cultivate non-cognitive skills alongside cognitive abilities. The book continues to inspire individuals to cultivate their own grit and explore ways to foster grit in others for long-term success and well-being.

 

REFERENCES:

1.      Del Giudice, Marguerite. Grit Trumps Talent and IQ: A Story Every Parent (and Educator) Should Read; Angela Duckworth and her team devise strategies to help students learn how to work hard and adapt in the face of temptation, distraction, and defeat. National Geographic, October 14, 2014. Accessed February 12, 2020.

2.      Duckworth and Yeager, Measurement matters: Assessing personal qualities other than cognitive ability for educational purposes (PDF). Educational Researcher. 44 (4): 237–251, (2015).

3.      Duckworth, Angela L., Peterson, Christopher, Matthews, Michael D. and Kelly, Dennis R. Grit: Perseverance and Passion for Long-Term Goals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 92(6), 1087-1101. (2007).

4.      Duckworth, A. Grit: the power of passion and perseverance. New York, NY: Scribner. (2016).

5.      Dweck, Carol S. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. Random House Publishing, New York: New York. (2006).

6.      Engber, Daniel (2016-05-08). Is "Grit" Really the Key to Success? Slate. ISSN 1091-2339. Retrieved 2019-11-21.

7.      "ESSA Law Broadens Definition of School Success". Education Week. Retrieved 2018-03-05.

8.      Gladwell, Malcolm. Outliers: The Story of Success. Little, Brown and Company. New York. (2008)

9.      https://doi.org/10.1007/s11409-014-9128-9.

10.   Perkins-Gough, Deborah. The significance of grit: A conversation with Angela Lee Duckworth. Educational Leadership, 71(1), 14-20. (2013).

11.   Shulevitz, Judith Nicholas Lemann, The New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved 25 March (2013).

12.   Wolters, C. A., & Hussain, M. Investigating Grit and Its Relations with College Students’ Self-Regulated Learning and Academic Achievement. Metacognition and Learning, 10, 293-311. (2015).

 

 

 

 

Received on 18.07.2023         Modified on 12.08.2023

Accepted on 05.09.2023      ©AandV Publications All right reserved