Competition plays an important role in the lives of gifted adolescents. Some research suggests that schools encourage competition simply by the nature of assigning grades and that students learn very early about the winners and losers. This study investigated how a group of 11 successful high school female students described the impact of competition on their academic and social lives. Qualitative methodology was used to identify themes that described how the participants maintained a competitive profile while still sustaining social contacts and friendships. Competition was viewed by participants as a negative behavior and comparing was a preferred word to describe their own competitive actions.
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