How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character

This term, introduced by Bruce McEwen, a neuroendocrinologist at Rockefeller University, refers to the cumulative physiological burden on the body resulting from chronic exposure to stressors. When individuals encounter stress, their bodies activate the stress response system, including the release of stress hormones like cortisol, to help cope with the perceived threat. However, repeated or prolonged stress can lead to dysregulation of the body’s stress response mechanisms, contributing to allostatic load. Tough explores how chronic stress and high allostatic load, often stemming from adverse childhood experiences and toxic stress environments, can impair children’s physical health, cognitive development, and socioemotional well-being.

Attachment theory, developed by psychologist John Bowlby and expanded upon by Mary Ainsworth, describes the emotional bond formed between infants and their caregivers. According to attachment theory, infants develop internal working models of relationships based on their early interactions with caregivers, which shape their expectations and behaviors in future relationships. Secure attachment, characterized by responsive and nurturing caregiving, provides a foundation for healthy emotional development and social functioning. In How Children Succeed, Paul Tough explores the role of attachment relationships in shaping children’s resilience, self-regulation, and ability to form positive social connections.

The cognitive hypothesis posits that cognitive abilities, such as intelligence, academic skills, and standardized test scores, are the primary predictors of academic achievement and life success. This perspective emphasizes the importance of cognitive skills in educational outcomes and societal advancement. However, in How Children Succeed, Tough challenges the exclusive focus on cognitive abilities and academic achievement metrics as the sole determinants of success. He argues that noncognitive factors, such as grit, resilience, character strengths, and socioemotional skills, play a critical role in shaping children's long-term outcomes and overcoming adversity.

Executive functions refer to a set of cognitive processes responsible for goal-directed behavior, self-regulation, decision-making, and problem-solving. These higher-order mental abilities enable individuals to plan, organize, prioritize, inhibit impulses, and adapt to changing demands effectively. Tough examines the importance of executive functions in academic achievement, social competence, and life success. He discusses how the development of executive functions is influenced by environmental factors, early experiences, and supportive relationships with caregivers.

Grit, a concept popularized by psychologist Angela Duckworth, refers to the perseverance and passion for long-term goals despite facing obstacles, setbacks, or failures. It encompasses qualities such as determination, perseverance, and stamina in pursuing one’s goals over time. In How Children Succeed, Tough explores the role of grit in predicting success and overcoming adversity. He discusses how grit, along with other noncognitive skills like resilience, self-control, and optimism, plays a crucial role in promoting academic achievement, career attainment, and personal well-being.

The HPA axis is a complex neuroendocrine system involved in the body’s response to stress. It consists of the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal glands, which work together to regulate the production and release of stress hormones, particularly cortisol. In How Children Succeed, Paul Tough discusses the impact of chronic stress and dysregulated HPA axis functioning on children’s physical health, cognitive development, and socioemotional well-being. He explores how exposure to adverse childhood experiences, toxic stress environments, and high allostatic load can dysregulate the HPA axis, leading to negative life outcomes.