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Overachievement

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Encyclopedia of Adolescence

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Overview

Generally, overachievement refers to performing at a higher level than expected due to natural ability and circumstances. When studied in the context of adolescence, the concept typically refers to academic success. Although overachievement historically was not an object of study and even a social phenomenon, the nature and extent of overachievement has gained increasing interest. Research reveals that overachievement reflects an intersection of personality and individual differences with values and attitudes taught or inherited from parents. School environment and social factors, particularly peer groups, also can contribute to overachievement. In terms of the impact of overachievement on adolescents, modesty and willingness to continue to work can lead to positive outcomes, while fear of negative comparisons can lead to the avoidance of peers and negative effects of efforts to overachieve. Like the factors related to whether adolescents’ will actually overachieve, the nature...

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Indiana University, 302 Sycamore Hall, 47405, Bloomington, IN, USA

    Roger J. R. Levesque

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  1. Roger J. R. Levesque
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Correspondence to Roger J. R. Levesque .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA

    Roger J.R. Levesque

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© 2016 Springer International Publishing AG

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Levesque, R.J.R. (2016). Overachievement. In: Levesque, R. (eds) Encyclopedia of Adolescence. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-32132-5_645-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-32132-5_645-2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-32132-5

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