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Abstract Self-concept has gained significant position in educational theories. The self-concept is said to be a set of planned self-attitudes that are relatively established and "characteristic" of an individual (Demo, 1992, p.303). In the present study, the impact of academic failure on the self-concept of the students was examined. The students of grade four in public primary schools (N=42) of Rawalpindi city were taken as study sample. Quantitative data were collected in two-phase panel study, i.e. at the beginning of the last term of preceding academic session and at the start of successive academic year. The self-concept of the students (N=238) was measured through Urdu translation of Beck Youth Inventory for Self-Concept of Children (BSCI-Y). The overall findings of the study revealed that the impact of academic failure on the self-concept of the students may be considerably negative.
The researcher recommended on the basis of the findings of the study that, while designing teacher training programs, the practical aspects of child psychology alone with theoretical considerations ought to be built up, as depicted in the conclusion of the present study. If the practical aspects of child behavior are incorporated into the teacher training programs, they may become more viable, relevant and acceptable for the teachers.
Keywords: Self-concept, success, failure, public schools Introduction The "self" is thought to be a fundamental idea in the field of personality psychology. Generally, it is used as I and Me. William James (1890 as cited in Funder, 2007) has explained a significant division between these two aspects. The self 'I" as an agent, conducts basic functions, as self regulation, self evaluation etc. "me" as an object, represented in self concepts, in how we see ourselves. During the course of development, "the child attains gradually more rich concept of himself or herself as an active agent, "I" separate from other people and objects, and "me" that has defining features and qualities reflected in multiple self-concepts" (Mischel, Shoda, and Smith, 2004, p.293). Quite a large number of research studies indicated that school failure is a major cause of low self-concept[dagger] in students. School failure damages their self-image and they often start dislike themselves.
Trethewey (1999) affirmed that "being rated as "unfit for promotion" at the end of a year frequently undermined a...