Athletes who tend to perform below their potential might be operating from what type of mindset?

Athletes who perform below their potential often exhibit a fixed mindset. A fixed mindset is characterized by the belief that abilities and intelligence are static traits that cannot be changed or improved. This perspective can lead athletes to avoid challenges and give up easily when faced with obstacles, believing that their capabilities are limited. Consequently, they may not push themselves to reach their full potential, as they might fear failure or feel that their effort will not lead to significant improvements.

In contrast, a growth mindset represents the understanding that abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work. This mindset encourages resilience, persistence, and a willingness to embrace challenges as opportunities for growth, which typically leads to better performance.

While both positive and negative mindsets can influence performance, they do not encapsulate the core belief around ability that defines a fixed mindset. Negative mindsets tend to focus more on pessimism and self-doubt, but still, this does not specifically correlate to the limited view of innate ability found in a fixed mindset. Therefore, the correct understanding of the performance issues at hand points directly to the limitations imposed by a fixed mindset.