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The incongruous achiever in adolescence
1Sunnybrook Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Journal of Youth and Adolescence
|January 14, 2014
Summary
This study explores psychological factors influencing student achievement and higher education attitudes. Key findings reveal critical developmental stages and the impact of parental values on educational aspirations.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Educational Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Understanding the psychological dynamics of academic achievement is crucial for educational success.
- Previous research has explored factors influencing student motivation and aspirations, but a comprehensive view of internal psychological dynamics in adolescents is still developing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the internal psychological dynamics of achievement in a general high school population.
- To identify critical developmental stages influencing attitudes toward higher education.
- To examine the relationship between student values, parental values, and educational plans.
Main Methods:
- Administered questionnaires to Grade 13 students and their parents.
- Selected students with incongruent achievement and educational plans for in-depth interviews.
Main Results:
- Identified diverse critical developmental stages impacting higher education attitudes.
- Found commonalities in student values, often linked to identification with parental values.
- Observed a wide spectrum of personality integration among students.
- Noted unique student-teacher relationship dynamics.
Conclusions:
- Student attitudes toward higher education are shaped by various developmental stages and parental value identification.
- Adolescent achievement is influenced by a complex interplay of personality, values, and interpersonal relationships.
- Further research into psychological factors can inform educational strategies and support systems for students.
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