Developing mental toughness in young people

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS FOREWORD Why the twenty-first century is different and why developing young people to prosper is different I BACKGROUND What is mental toughness?Control Commitment Challenge Confidence (self belief or self-esteem)The four C's model Introduction A summary of the four C's Challenge THE BROADER PSYCHOLOGICAL CONTEXT OF CHALLENGE Achievement motivation Fear of failure Competitiveness Commitment THE BROADER PSYCHOLOGICAL CONTEXT OF COMMITMENT Goals revisited The trait of conscientiousness Confidence Confidence in abilities Interpersonal confidence THE BROADER PSYCHOLOGICAL CONTEXT OF CONFIDENCE Self-efficacy Self-esteem Optimism Control Emotional control Life control THE WIDER PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE Learned helplessness The power of attributions Mental toughness: its relevance to teaching Dealing with stress The learning environment Change Research using the MTQ48 Introduction The benefits of mental toughness Benefits to health Benefits in education Explaining the advantages The possible biological base of mental toughness Summary Assessing mental toughness—MTQ48 Reliability Validity Face validity Content validity Construct validity Criterion validity Summary MTQ48 report types and handling feedback MTQ48 report types Reports Assessor report (standard version only)Coaching report (standard version and young person version)Distance travelled report (standard version and young person version)Organisation development report (the group analysis report in the young person option)Handling feedback The importance of preparation An example: using the MTQ48 Handling feedback—best practice Handling feedback with young people General structure of any feedback discussion Opening the discussion The discussion Moving forward Life control Summary Mental toughness—its links to current thinking II APPLIED PERSPECTIVES Evaluation and Return On Investment (ROI)Introduction Measurement in context: focusing on mental toughness The drive to measure Facing the challenges—putting measurement into practice Attribution and contribution Articulating return on investment “Good data”: what counts as evidence?Developing your approach: finding what works Evaluating difference and what makes a difference Conclusion Developing mental toughness in young people: coaching as an applied positive psychology Coaching in education What is coaching?Coaching in education: the evidence Positive psychology, coaching and mental toughness Mental health considerations?Coaching students for mental toughness Training students to peer coach for mental toughness Coaching teachers for mental toughness Three components of coaching Skills of coaching Way of being Conclusion Social mobility and managing shift Understanding social mobility What is social mobility The roots of social mobility Identifying social mobility Educational attainment Work and career Managing transitions Increasing social mobility through individual development and opportunity awareness Developing self reliance and resilience in enabling social mobility The MTQ48 psychometric measure Commitment and challenge Challenge Control and confidence Employability and young people What is employability?The case for employability Developing the skills to enhance employability for young people Practical applications: young people, teachers, and school leaders Young people—mental toughness and raising aspirations So what about teacher leaders?Parents' role in developing young people Introduction Development of children Needs of children Challenges facing young people How can mental toughness help the development of young people?Parent's own mental toughness Conclusion III APPLIED CASE STUDIES AND RESEARCH CASE STUDIES Mental toughness in secondary schools Introduction The global grit project Research at the University of Hull Future research projects Conclusion Mental toughness in Higher Education Introduction Mental toughness and attainment Mental toughness and life satisfaction Conclusions Boosting career decision making and employability through mental toughness Case study Sex gender identity and mental toughness Sex differences in mental toughness Sex vs gender identity Experimental case study on sex differences, gender identity, and mental toughness Procedure Mental toughness: MTQ48 (Clough, Earle & Sewell, 2002)Gender identity: the Children's Sex Role Inventory (CSRI) short form Sex differences in mental toughness and gender identity Association between gender identity and mental toughness Predicting sex differences using sex and gender identity Conclusions Sport and its role in developing young people Sport, stress, and coping Sport and the four C's of mental toughness Challenge Commitment Control Confidence Summary Performance, behaviour, and career aspirations of students in secondary education—mental toughness case study Initial pilots in Knowsley What we sought to implement, why, and how we went about this How we are seeking to embed mental toughness at The Children's Society IV DEVELOPING MENTAL TOUGHNESS Can mental toughness be developed in young people?Positive thinking Developing a positive mindset Self talk Think three positives Affirmations What will I do tomorrow?The positiveness hunt Looking at heroes/heroines The “glad” game Turning negatives into positives Searching for the silver lining in setbacks is the optimistic basis for the “glad game.” Reframing Thought stopping—physical and mental cues The positive thinking (attitude) ladder Anxiety and anxiety control Goal setting Understanding what a goal is and why it's important Setting achievable goals—SMART(ER) goals Eating the elephant—Dealing with big goals and setting milestones A psychological perspective on goal setting Attentional control So what is attentional control?Why can some maintain attentional control and others struggle?Attentional control and mental toughness Practice is the key Tools for developing attentional control Main attentional control techniques The number grid Stroop test Games The stork stand Waste paper (zen) basketball Conclusion Mindfulness for young people Benefits What is mindfulness?How does it work?Resilience/mental toughness Mental wellbeing Education The mental toughness framework and mindfulness Control Challenge Confidence Emotional intelligence Commitment Introduction to mindfulness for young people: the .b programme Activities The .b programme has been developed by the mindfulness in schools project What young people say Conclusion