Carol Susan Dweck was born on 17 October 1946 in New York City. She studied psychology at Barnard College, graduating in 1967, and completed her doctorate at Yale University in 1972. She subsequently held academic positions at the University of Illinois, Harvard University and Columbia University before joining Stanford University in 2004, where she became the Lewis and Virginia Eaton Professor of Psychology.

Dweck’s research examines motivation, achievement and how people understand their abilities. She is particularly known for distinguishing between a fixed mindset, in which intelligence and abilities are seen as largely unchangeable, and a growth mindset, in which they are regarded as capable of development. Her studies have explored how these beliefs influence responses to challenges, setbacks and feedback, particularly in educational settings.

Her publications include Self-Theories and Mindset: The New Psychology of Success (2006), which introduced her research to a wider audience. Her work has influenced approaches to teaching and learning. She was elected to the US National Academy of Sciences in 2012 and received the Yidan Prize for Education Research in 2017.