Parental perception and self-concept of gifted and average underachievers

Self-concept and parental evaluation of their child's self-concept were investigated in fifth to eighth grade gifted and average achievers and underachievers (n = 134). In the average sample achievers had higher self-concepts than underachievers. In the gifted sample, the reverse was true; underachievers had higher self-concepts than achievers. In general, the parental evaluations of their children were unaffected by the child's performance in school. In the average sample only the mothers evaluated their underachieving children lower, whereas in the gifted sample there was no significant difference between parents' evaluations. A tentative explanation is offered for the relationship among giftedness, achievement, and self-concept.