Feinting With Damned Praise

Once again, "studies" are catching up with basics many of us have known for ages, in this particular instance that the effusive praise of children is far more harmful than it is helpful. Particularly interesting:

Dweck’s research on overpraised kids strongly suggests that image maintenance becomes their primary concern-they are more competitive and more interested in tearing others down.

No kidding? Gee, I’d neeeeeh-ver have imagined that....

(BTW, that "thud" you just heard was the sound of Captain Obvious slamming the door forever on Professors Oblivious and Obsequious, the twin enablers our current clime. They're given to various individual and simultaneous incarnations, but always as a single body with two faces and no personality. Like--- No, no, no.... Discretion, Dr J, Discretion.... Better part of valour and all that jazz....)