There a few things more difficult for a parent than trying to deal with a child who will not perform to their full potential.  This may be especially true when intellectually gifted children fail to exercise their gifts.  The conflicts that result often provoke such great anxiety that they undermine the entire family relationship.

Underachievement can be defined in a wide variety of different ways and it may have equally diverse origins.  It may be related to learning disabilities, family conflict or other psychological processes.  It is beyond our scope here to describe every symptom and possible remedy for underachievement. Each case is far too complex, and far too precious, to presume that there is a single easy answer.  However, we can confirm that the problem is not uncommon and that the solution to the problem almost always begins with the parent rather than the child. 

We can help you find good resources to learn more about this issue and network you with other parents with similar experiences.  Below you’ll find citations to texts on this subject that can be obtained in our local libraries.  The call numbers and library sources are listed and some of them are still available for purchase through Amazon with current reviews.  In addition, the AGTS is considering sponsoring a moderated List-Serve discussion group on this topic.  If you would like to see more information on this topic, or may want to participate in such a discussion, please send us an e-mail indicating your interest at network@agts.net .  

Literature Resources @ Local Libraries

1.   Jane Beasley Raph . 1966. Bright Underachievers.  Studies of scholastic underachievement among intellectually superior high school students. New York: Teacher's College Press. 289 pages. Call Number: LSU LC 3981.R3

2.   Natalie Rathvon. 1996. The Unmotivated Child.  Helping your underachiever become a successful student. New York: Fireside. 239 pages. Call Number: LSU MIDL LC 4691.R38  1996

3.   Patricia L. Supplee. 1990. Reaching the gifted underachiever.  Program strategy and design. New York: Teacher's College Press. 255 pages. Call Number: LSU MIDL LC 3981.S87 1990

4.   Robert B. McCall . 1992. High School Underachievers.  What do they do as adults, Vols. Individual differences and development Series. Newbury Park:  Sage Publications. 163 pages. Call Number: LSU  MIDL LC 4691.M32 1992

5.   Victor Cogen. 1990. Boosting the underachiever. New York: Plenum Press. 317 pages. Call Number: EBR Parish Library 371.956 C676b