Enhancing grit: Possibility and intervention strategies

This chapter suggests intervention strategies for enhancing grit. Since Duckworth's introduction, grit has been demonstrated to be a critical personal characteristic in predicting positive educational, vocational, and well-being outcomes across many cultures. However, it is still unclear whether grit can be increased through interventions and how it could be achieved. While grit has been largely regarded as an unchanging personal trait, research in brain development, neuroscience, and psychological resources have indicated that grit may be malleable and teachable throughout the lifespan. This chapter presents the possibility of enhancing grit with longitudinal data and neuropsychological findings on brain development. Intervention strategies are then proposed for the cognitive, behavioral, and emotional domains of grit. In the cognitive domain, teaching grit, reflecting on one's own and vicarious experiences of grit, adopting a growth mindset, and setting both long-term and short-term goals are suggested. In the behavioral domain, promoting brain development, increasing deliberate practices, and preventing the overuse of media are proposed. Lastly, in the emotional domain, overcoming negative emotions (e.g. stress and frustration) in the process of exercising grit, and promoting interest discovery through flow experiences are offered.