Intelligence isn’t fixed and can be improved, according to a psychology book that local school officials say can help change schools and improve students’ academic and vocational lives.

The book, “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success” by Stanford professor Carol Dweck, argues that whether or not a person believes he or she can improve determines their attitude toward learning, relationships and challenges.

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Dweck’s book was chosen by the 21st Century Innovation Team in Wallingford and read by school administrators and teachers. “Mindset” will also be on the ninth-grade summer reading list.

The group asked local business owners what ways schools could better prepare students for the workplace, according to Wallingford physical education teacher Patty Purcell, a team member. Business owners wanted employees who know “how to fail and not fall apart,” Purcell said, a topic addressed in the book.

“Mindset” was chosen by Wallingford due in part to a visit to Conard High School in West Hartford.

“We really liked their culture there,” Purcell said. “We know that in our district one of the first things we wanted to work on is having a positive environment.”

Some teachers and administrators in Meriden have read the book and are using it with their students.

“We just feel that the book is very useful in getting people to think about flexibility in their thought,” said Robert Angeli, associate school superintendent for curriculum. “There’re a lot of education leaders and teachers reading the book because I think it helps us think about the necessity of change.”

People can have a fixed mindset about themselves, believing they were born with a level of intelligence that can’t be improved, according to the book. Others have a growth mindset in which failure isn’t a mark of low intelligence that can’t be changed but rather a challenge to work harder and improve.

“Growth mindset is about seeing change as an opportunity for learning and improving,” Dweck said in a telephone interview.

Those with such a mindset don’t see challenging work or unpleasant social experiences as undermining their self-worth.

“In a growth mindset, that’s when you get smarter,” Dweck said. “Then it’s exciting.”

Her 246-page book applies the two mindsets to areas of life such as work, sports, relationships and school. Although Dweck is a researcher, she “put egghead aside” for the book and relies mostly on anecdotes and examples to prove her points.

Students need to understand that a bad grade doesn’t mean they’re dumb or unintelligent, Dweck said. Mistakes should be addressed by parents or teachers to provide an opportunity for improvement, and glossing over them only reinforces the idea that failure is a mark of shame on the student.

“Parents and many teachers have tried to shield kids from difficulty - have tried to puff them up,” Dweck said. “My work shows that’s sure to backfire.”

The scientific evidence largely supports the idea that intelligence, as measured in an IQ test, isn’t fixed, according to Joseph Renzulli, an educational psychology professor at the University of Connecticut.

“Carol isn’t the only person who has argued this,” he said. “What the research seems to show is that (IQ) is malleable.”

Renzulli and Dweck were among 15 authors who wrote a book on human intelligence called “Malleable Minds.” Renzulli said he’s familiar with Dweck’s research.

“She’s got some good evidence, some good data,” he said. “Her work is very solid. She’s a good solid researcher.”

Since “Mindset” was published in 2007, Dweck said she’s done research on aggression which she hopes to turn into an anti-bullying program for schools.

“We’ve found a fixed mindset about people is a driver of aggression,” Dweck said.

While Dweck’s book has received widespread attention, she said Wallingford is embracing the book in a way few other towns are.

“The way Wallingford has undertaken this, with the whole administration on board, the Town Council on board, the mayor on board, the community on board, is unprecedented,” she said. “I haven’t seen a whole community undertake it as a group and I think this is a recipe for success.”

The book is being used in Wallingford to support the “Wallingford 100” effort for a 100 percent graduation rate. Community support is part of that and School Superintendent Salvatore Menzo said the Town Council, mayor and about 100 residents have read “Mindset.”

Menzo had heard of the book, but the impetus to read it and incorporate it into the schools was provided by the innovation team.

Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr. and some town councilors also took part in a professional development course for middle school teachers using the book. Menzo hopes the book’s ideas increase student motivation and open teachers up to change.

“It creates a climate that would nurture success, that would nurture creativity,” Menzo said.

Dweck will speak at the teachers’ convocation in August and speak to parents later that day. While her usual speaker’s fee is about $10,000, Menzo said she gave the town a “very significant” discount to appear.

“I think she sees it as very, very exciting that her book is being used in such a fashion,” he said. “I think it was that community component that she was very, very impressed by.”

Administrators and teachers read the book earlier this year and had a video conference with Dweck last month. Parents and some students also attended the video conference.

“I’ve definitely seen a change in vocabulary,” Purcell said. “The conversations are definitely there.”

One thousand copies were purchased and loaned out. The copies are coming back to the district, Purcell said, and will be given out to students for summer reading.

“I wish we had more copies,” Purcell said.

jbuchanan@record-journal.com

(203) 317-2230

Twitter: @JBuchananRJ