What are Some General Characteristics of Underachievers?
There are various characteristics of underachieving gifted students. Some underachieving gifted students may have many of the characteristics associated with underachievement, while other students may only present one or two characteristics. There are some general characteristics that many underachievers have in common that make it easier to identify them in a classroom. In the broadest sense most underachievers have according to Smutney (2004) “a lack of motivation to apply themselves in school, environments that do not nurture their gifts and may even discourage high achievement, and disabilities or other learning deficits that mask their giftedness” (para 3). These broad themes can be broken down into even smaller characteristics of underachievers and include items described by Smutney (2004) such as: “low self-esteem, negative attitude towards school and learning, reluctance to take risks or apply one’s self, discomfort with competition, lack of perseverance, lack of goal-directed behavior, social isolation, and weaknesses in skill areas and organization” (para. 5). Being aware of these characteristics can help aid a parent or educator in identifying a gifted underachiever early. Identifying underachievement early is critical. If underachievement can be stopped at an early age, then there is more of a chance of reversing the underachievement. The longer the student is allowed to be an underachiever the harder it is to change the behavior.
[Image above] retrieved June 25, 2013, from: https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/p480x480/970404_10151932326444488_1936785509_n.jpg.
[Image above] retrieved June 25, 2013, from: https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/p480x480/970404_10151932326444488_1936785509_n.jpg.