Effects of success, failure, and a monetary payoff on the level of aspiration of American Indian and white adolescents were studied. Race, sex, grade, self-esteem, and locus of control were considered as potential mediating variables. A significant decrease in level of aspiration followed failure; the effect was more pronounced at the junior high level. Success led to a higher level of aspiration for adolescents with low self-esteem as did a monetary payoff. Implications of these results are discussed.
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