9780939701049 - The Making of an Underachiever: Growing Up in the Shadow of Success by Linnus S Pecaut (1 results)

Paperback. Condition: Very Good - AS NEW condition. NOT a library discard (illustrator). 1st ed? (No additional printings listed. Institute for Motivational Development, Inc, 1986. The cover is in Very Good condition with only a little mild shelfwear. Flat, uncreased spine. NO chips, tears, creases or fading. Square and tight. Sharp corners. AS NEW inside. We have only this one copy, but it is available now and ready to ship today from Henderson, Nevada. NO owner's name or bookplate. NOT a library discard. Pages are fresh, crisp, clean and unmarked. Bound in the original brown and tan wraps. From an AI overview: "The Making of an Underachiever: Growing Up in the Shadow of Success (1986) is a book by psychologist Linnus S. Pecaut, founder of the Institute for Motivational Development. It details the psychological patterns of children who perform poorly despite having average or above-average intelligence, specifically exploring how family dynamics and the pressure of a successful sibling or parent can stunt a child's motivation. Key Concepts from Pecaut's WorkWhy Underachievers UnderachievePecaut emphasizes that underachievement is driven more by behavioral coping mechanisms and personality variables than a lack of academic ability.The Shadow: Growing up next to a highly successful sibling or parent often leads to anxiety and feelings of inadequacy, causing the child to subconsciously opt out of the competition.The Short-term Fix: Underachievers develop habits -- such as procrastination, making excuses, and forgetting assignments -- to reduce immediate stress, which ultimately stifles long-term success.Common Characteristics of an UnderachieverAccording to Pecaut's findings in publications like the The Washington Post, these individuals frequently exhibit several traits:They are highly defensive to criticism and rarely take responsibility for personal failures.They tend to complete assignments incorrectly or fail to turn in work.They are heavily dependent on one-on-one attention and lack self-starter tendencies.Parenting Pitfalls. Pecaut noted that traditional parenting tactics usually make underachievement worse.Using logic (e.g., 'If you do this, you'll be fine') or power/control (e.g., 'If you fail, we take away your privileges') only feeds into the child's anxiety.Underachievers are compared to "stuck doors" -- the harder adults pull, the more resistance they create.". 1st ed? (No additional printings listed. Softcover. Very Good - AS NEW condition. Illus. by NOT a library discard. iv, 37pp. Great Packaging, Fast Shipping.