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This renowned psychologist studies how grit contributes to academic achievement

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This profile can be shared with students to enhance the visibility of psychologists of diverse backgrounds. As an additional activity, students can be asked to conduct research to learn more about the psychologist and their work. An alternative assignment could be to ask students to find other psychologists of diverse backgrounds whose work falls into this content pillar. Keywords highlight how psychological scientists study concepts within and across pillars.

Background

Dr. Duckworthopens in new window is a professor at the University of Pennsylvania and co-founder of Character Lab, a nonprofit whose mission is to advance scientific insights that help children thrive. The daughter of Chinese immigrants, she worked first as a management consultant and then as a math and science teacher at public schools in New York City, San Francisco, and Philadelphia, before pursuing her degree in psychology. Dr. Duckworth’s TED talkopens in new window on grit is among the most-viewed of all time. Her book Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance is a #1 New York Times best seller.

Contributions

Dr. Duckworth studies the role of grit, which she defines as passion and perseverance for long-term goals, and self-control in predicting achievement.

Notable publications

Duckworth, A. (2016). Grit: The power of passion and perseverance. Scribner; Simon & Schuster.

Duckworth, A. L., & Gross, J. J. (2014). Self-control and grit: Related but separable determinants of success. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 23(5), 319-325. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721414541462opens in new window

Duckworth, A. L., Peterson, C., Matthews, M. D., & Kelly, D. R. (2007). Grit: Perseverance and passion for long-term goals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 92(6), 1087-1101. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.92.6.1087opens in new window

Keywords

Race, Personality, Development


The development of resources to broaden diversity and representation in the teaching of high school psychology resources is an APA Committee of Teachers of Psychology in Secondary Schools initiative supported by funding from the American Psychological Foundation David and Carol Myers Fund. This resource was developed by Eric Castro, Shawn C.T. Jones, PhD, Allyn Olsen, and Catherine Sanderson, PhD.

Date created: August 2023