Education discourages using failure as a teaching tool, instead measuring mastery of a subject. This practice of grading on performance quality is inextricably wed to how a person views failure and senses his emotional and cognitive well-being. And so, the learner becomes failure averse, demoralized, and focused on a grade, score, or task—initiating a cycle of shame, disappointment, embarrassment, and fear of tests, competitions, and challenges.