In education and psychology, focusing on fixing what’s wrong in a child’s life to improve treatment outcomes is common. But this approach misses vital traits that make up the whole child, negatively impacting their experiences.

Dr. Sam Goldstein, Assistant Clinical Instructor of Psychiatry at the University of Utah School of Medicine, has promoted resilience and tenacity in children for forty-five years. In this episode, he explains to Dr. Tammy Stephens why treatment approaches improve when they shift and how to unlock each child's potential.

According to Dr. Goldstein, starting with what a child can do well and building out from that island creates a solid foundation for helping children develop resiliency and navigate the challenges of their world.

Tune in to hear:

The seven instincts that govern human behavior and how recognizing and nurturing these can change the way we educate our children
Why focusing on a child's strengths and 'islands of competence' rather than fixating solely on areas of struggle fosters resilience and self-confidence
How standardized tests fall short in measuring a child's intelligence and potential and why fostering critical thinking skills should be a priority in education reform

Timestamped overview:

[00:00] Introducing Enriching Education

[04:07] Focusing on what’s right instead of what’s wrong

[06:20] Children need affirmation and recognition of strengths

[8:16] Resilience is about functioning, not just recovery

[10:45] Tenacity in children and how it’s different from resiliency

[17:42] Explaining “The Seven Instincts” and how they are creating a revolution in the education system.

[19:20] Intuitive optimism and intrinsic motivation as inborn instincts

[19:54] Understanding empathy, compassion, and genuine altruism

[20:42] Responsibility and measured fairness as instincts five and six

[22:23] The seventh instinct of simultaneous intelligence

[31:46] The impact of belief on societies, from survival to conflict