Dealing with Fear of Failure: Working with Script Concepts in the Classroom

Abstract

One of the important tasks performed by teachers, especially with younger students, is to focus on pupils' behavior and, if necessary, to correct it. Transactional analysis script theories help teachers to understand why children act as they do and to offer options for responding more specifically to what children need so as to support them in changing their self-limiting behavior. This article presents a common school situation –fear of failure–and ways to prevent fixation of negative patterns of thinking, feeling, and acting. It also describes how to practice new behavior, thinking, and feeling in the group, which helps students to increase their ability to learn as well as their chances for having good relationships with others.