🤩We conducted this research with the amazing @aashnap.bsky.social, Lena-Emilia Schenker, and @andreicimpian.bsky.social. (5/5)

Labels matter. Even seemingly positive ones can reinforce unequal expectations about who’s a “natural” and who’s a “striver.” Our paper is now in press at Developmental Psychology:
kidlab.nl/wp-content/u...
(4/5)

These stereotypes showed up in children as young as 8, as well as in adults. Children’s stereotypes were related to their parents’ stereotypes, and they were strongest among children whose parents:
💠had higher socioeconomic status
💠held stronger essentialist beliefs about socioeconomic status (3/5)

We find that children from disadvantaged backgrounds are seen as more hardworking than intelligent. Their successes are attributed more to effort than to ability (“You worked so hard!”). Their failures are attributed more to a lack of ability than effort (“Maybe you don’t have what it takes”). (2/5)

During this preparatory phase, people actively protect their focal goal from distractions. As a result, they won't interpret praise as a "job done," but as an encouragement, which fuels subsequent performance.

Our research shows that this performance drop can be avoided by delaying the praise until individuals have begun preparing for their next performance.

Praise is often used to boost performance. But when given immediately after success, it can backfire. People may interpret the praise as a signal that they've already made sufficient progress toward their goal, leading them to coast and, ultimately, perform worse.

Illustrator Edwin Stoop captured children's dreams in real time. Things got existential:
🕳️ “I want to study a black hole… but what if I never come back?”
🍦 “Is a non-melting ice cream even possible?”
🌌 “Why do we live, and are we really alone?”

lilscientist.nl

With Daudi van Veen (@daudivanveen.nl), Lena-Emilia Schenker, and Lynn Weisscher, children drew what they think a scientist looks like — sometimes resembling Harry Potter 🧙🏽‍♀️ — and explored how to break stereotypes. Their message was clear: They want the university to be a place for everyone.