How Mistakes Can Make You Smarter
here are typical responses to mistakes : paying attention and shutting down . OK ,
Tnobody wants to make mistakes -- but how you react to them makes a big difference in whether you learn from the mistakes , or not learn from the mistakes . Two new studies looked at what happens in people ' s brains as they made mistakes . One used college students performing a computer task ; the other study used doctors making decisions about which medications to prescribe . In both studies , participants received immediate feedback about whether they had made the right decision , they were also given opportunities to try again , using what they had learned .
It turns out that there are two typical brain responses to mistakes . One looks like a " wake up call ." The brain hones in on the negative outcome , and treats it like a problem that needs solving . What happened , and why ? The brain also increases its attention during the next decision , as if it is trying to prevent a repeat of the mistake . When this happens , people are much more likely to improve their performance and learn from the mistake .
The second brain response looks more like a ‘ shutting down ’. The brain reacts to the negative feedback as a threat in itself . To escape feeling bad , or doubt one ' s abilities , the brain chooses to not think about the mistake . Interestingly , people whose brains show this ‘ shutting down ’ response pay much more attention to positive feedback .
he researchers think this is evidence of a confirmation bias - We want to feel good
Tabout ourselves , so we pay more attention to feedback that is consistent with our self-image . When this happens , our performances do not improve , and we fail to learn from our mistakes . What is the lesson we learn from these studies ? When you make a mistake or receive critical feedback , don ' t panic . Think of it as an opportunity for learning , and remember that the process of " failing " -- when you ' re willing to pay attention -- is often what leads to the greatest successes .
Akram Youth | 15