This study examined fear of success in college men in relation to their parents' college education or lack of it. 44 male college freshmen wrote stories to a cue designed to elicit fear of success imagery. Analysis showed more fear of success in students whose parents had not gone to college than in students whose parents had some college experience. The results, taken together with those of previous study by the author, suggest that fear of success in college among men involves fear of rejection and disapproval by significant others—family and friends.
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