The Self-Improvement Paradox: Why Telling Students to 'Just Try Harder' Backfires
Rob HellerPublished on: 17/07/2026
Motivation without skill is frustration. When students are told to work harder without being given the tools to actually do it differently, they conclude they're simply not capable — which is the exact opposite of what we need them to believe. This piece unpacks the psychology and the fix.
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