Psychology of Underachievement

HARVEY P. MANDEL, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in Toronto, Canada. He is also an associate professor in the Department of Psychology and Director of the Institute on Achievement and Motivation at York University. As a widely recognized authority in the field of underachievement, Dr. Mandel has addressed more than 10,000 teachers, guidance counselors, psychologists, and social workers on the subject. He has received major awards in the field of underachievement from the Ontario Psychological Foundation, the Bea Wickett Foundation, and York University. SANDER I. MARCUS, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in Chicago, Illinois. He serves as a managing partner in the career and business consulting firm of Friedland & Marcus. He has counseled thousands of individuals about career paths, has consulted with major corporations, including AT&T and Ameritech Services, and has taught at three midwestern universities.

• RESEARCH ON UNDERACHIEVEMENT. Variables which Influence the Achievement Process. Treatment Approaches to Underachievement. THE MODEL OF DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS. The Diagnostic Interview. Concepts of Differential Diagnosis. The Developmental Theory Model. RESEARCH ON THE DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSTIC MODEL. Non-differential Diagnostic Research. Differential Diagnostic Research. Differential Treatment Research. PERSONALITY TYPES OF UNDERACHIEVERS. The Overanxious Disorder Underachiever. The Conduct Disorder Underachiever. The Academic Problem Underachiever. The Identity Disorder Underachiever. The Oppositional Defiant Disorder Underachiever. CONCLUSIONS. A Final Word on Differential Diagnosis and DifferentialTreatment. Bibliography. Author Index. Subject Index.