Question

Tim is doing poorly in math. Although he knows he's not a very good math student, it does not concern him greatly. He spends most of his time after school playing hockey, a sport at which he excels. Tim's 5th grade math teacher tries to motivate him to stay after school for tutoring, but Tim doesn't want to miss hockey practice. Furthermore, he reasons, two of his teammates have even lower marks in math than he does. Which process seems to enhance or protect Tim's self-esteem?

a. Tim's self-criticism
b. Tim's self-monitoring of his performance
c. Tim's perspective-taking skills
d. Tim's downward social comparison

Answer 1

Tim's self-esteem is protected by engaging in downward social comparison, comparing himself to those performing worse in math. Parents and teachers can enhance children's self-esteem by encouraging diverse activities, providing positive reinforcement, and fostering a love of learning.

Step-by-step explanation:

The process that seems to enhance or protect Tim's self-esteem is d. Tim's downward social comparison. This psychological strategy involves comparing oneself to others who are perceived to be worse off or less skilled, in this case, his teammates with even lower marks in math. By doing this, Tim maintains a sense of self-worth and competence relative to his peers, which helps protect his self-esteem despite his poor performance in math.

To support children's self-esteem, parents, and teachers can encourage participation in a variety of activities to find areas where children like Tim can excel, such as sports, arts, or other non-academic pursuits. Additionally, emphasizing individual progress and setting realistic goals can help students recognize their growth and value their unique strengths.

Another important aspect for parents and teachers is to provide a supportive environment where positive reinforcement is given for effort, not just achievement, and where children are taught to value learning for its own sake, rather than purely for grades or comparison with others.