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Underachievement and the Quest for Dignity: Contemporary Perspectives on a Timeless Issue

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Handbook of Giftedness and Talent Development in the Asia-Pacific

Part of the book series: Springer International Handbooks of Education ((SIHE))

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Abstract

Since the 1930s, the topic of underachievement has been studied by educators and psychologists with hopes of finding a ‘cure’ for this condition. Dozens of books and hundreds of research studies have been completed, yet there continues to be no consensus on the aetiology or successful treatment of gifted students who perform far below their measured academic aptitude. In this chapter, we explore underachievement as the complex phenomenon that is involving not just curriculum, instruction and cognition but also the lack of autonomy the underachieving student feels in having diminished control over his/her education. Following an overview of the scholarly research on underachievement, a theory-based approach based on current and historic psychological efforts to best understand and address concerns of underachieving students will be addressed. The chapter concludes with specific suggestions for addressing the individual and multi-faceted needs of underachieving students, with the ultimate goal of guiding these students to develop a strong sense of self and a desire to succeed academically while preserving their personal integrity and dignity.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA

    James R. Delisle

  2. University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA

    Robert Arthur Schultz

Authors
  1. James R. Delisle
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  2. Robert Arthur Schultz
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to James R. Delisle or Robert Arthur Schultz .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Education, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Susen R. Smith

Section Editor information

  1. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile

    María Leonor Conejeros-Solar

  2. Dept. of Psychology, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, Lima, LIMA, Peru

    Sheyla Blumen

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Analytic chart of article data set (2007–2017)

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Delisle, J.R., Schultz, R.A. (2019). Underachievement and the Quest for Dignity: Contemporary Perspectives on a Timeless Issue. In: Smith, S. (eds) Handbook of Giftedness and Talent Development in the Asia-Pacific. Springer International Handbooks of Education. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-3021-6_28-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-3021-6_28-1

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  • Print ISBN: 978-981-13-3021-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-13-3021-6

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