Mother and Father Schemata of Achievers and Underachievers in Primary School Arithmetic

Abstract

The Mother and Father schemata of primary grade achievers and underachievers were compared using a modification of the Kuethe Felt Figure Technique. Ss' reactions to “Mother,” and to “Father” involve schemata which are a function of both Ss' sex and their achievement pattern. Achieving male Ss place “self” closer to the Mother figure than do underachieving male Ss and achieving male Ss also place “self” closer to the Mother figure than to the Father figure. However, achieving female Ss place “self” at a greater distance from both the Father and Mother figures than do achieving male Ss and underachieving female Ss place “self” closer to the Father figure than do achieving female Ss. It appears that underachieving male Ss place “self” relative to “Mother” and “Father” in a manner similar to that of the emotionally disturbed boys studied by Weinstein.