Is Your Child or Student An Underachiever?

The following is a list of characteristics tied to the four types of underachievers. This list may help to determine what, if any, type of underachiever your child or student may be. Are these students lacking intrinsic motivation? Or have they yet to discover things about themselves that would then allow them to be motivated? Would extrinsic motivation be the best approach for underachieving students? Leave your comments!

Distant Underachiever

• Lacks close, long-term, same-age friends.
• Interests lie in activities that are isolated from others.
• In spite of the motivation problem, is "a good kid".
• Experienced significant emotional trauma early in life.

Passive Underachiever

• Becomes anxious when asked for an opinion.
• Because of narrow "details" focus, often misses the "big picture".
• Seems to agree with you too much of the time.
• Says, "I don't know" much of the time.
  

Dependent Underachiever

• Rarely seems to complete a task in the way expected.
• Interrupts conversations with you to talk to others.
• Seems to have a selective memory.
• Complains of being bored and does not seem to listen.
  

Defiant Underachiever

• Questions your requests and instructions; may comment that they are irrelevant or stupid.
• You feel on guard with this child.
• Disagrees for the sake of disagreeing.
• Attempts to avoid being around responsible adults.

Source: Spevak, P. PhD., & Karinch, M. (2006). Empowering Underachievers: New strategies to guide kids (8-18) to personal excellence. New Jersey: New Horizon Press