Highly competent children often do not display patterns of achievement motivation (Phillips, 1987). Research has shown that a child's perception of his or her competence is a better indicator of achievement motivation than the reality of his or her ability. (Bandura, 1977; Covington, 1984; Nicholls, 1982, Weiner, 1979). Not only does the child influence his achievement motivation but teachers and parents have a significant impact and influence on how the child views his or her abilities.

Research illustrating this theory of perception on achievement motivation has focused on highly skilled children who perceive their abilities as less than they are. Self-perception shows itself in factors of underachievement, low standards and learned helplessness. These children, although highly skilled, generally underachieve, hold themselves to lower standards and exhibit forms of learned helplessness because they see their abilities lower than what they actually are. Measelle, Ablow, &......

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Title: Achievement Motivation
Approximate Word Count: 841
Approximate Pages: 4 (250 words per double-spaced page)

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