Resocializing students with Failure Syndrome

Brophy defines failure syndrome as a “student who approaches assignments with very low expectations of succeeding and who tend to give up at the first sign of difficulty.” (Brophy, 126) I see failure syndrom as a defense mechanism used  by the student inorder to avoid feeling like a failure. If the student goes into an assignment with an I don’t care attitude it does not feel as bad when they don’t succeed, because they can always tell themselves that they didn’t try or they just can’t do that kind of assignment. This type of attitude is classified under the entitity theory. This is the theory that learning is based soley on intellectual ability, either you know it or you don’t. When a student feels that all school is either black or white failure syndrome is more prevelant.

Brophy gave several outside causes that attribute to a child developing failure syndrome. The one that found most enlightening was that children develop failure syndrome from an overdependancy-related desires for attention from their teacher. On the other side of the spectrum children may develop failure syndrome from parents inability to reward children when they did well while encouarging their children when they failed. This concept seemed like a catch twenty-two. However as educators it’s important to note that we need to find the medium between these two ideas in order to avoid failure syndrome and encouarge strong motivational skills in our students.

In order to motivate students and move them away from failure syndrome we need to show the student that they can be and are successful. This can be done in several ways

1. showing appreciation for their progess

2. allow students to set their own goals; while using self-evaluation as a motivator

3. allow students to work in groups; this may allow students to be a leader while recieving positive feedback from their peers

4. talk with students to find what areas they feel comfortable in and which are anxiety provoking.

By allowing the students some atonomy towards changing their attitude towards school may give the students added confidence and while decreasing the notion that they can’t succeed.