Based on a classroom learning experience, discuss the social Essay

Based on a classroom learning experience, discuss the social psychological influences on your academic achievement - Essay Example Your academic success today is not necessarily indicative of your success in the future. Working to improve shows others that you have not given up on yourself, so others will not likely give up on you (Ekeler, W. 1997).† The aspiration of every parent for their children is that they develop themselves into mature individuals who can have faith and confidence in themselves that they will succeed in life. Although the interaction within the family is a factor that can help mold the attitude and characteristics of the students, the parents have a high regard for the teachers in school to reinforce this perception. It is a fact, that in the schooling years, the children would spend at least one-third of the day in school, five days a week, thus the influence of the teachers and the interrelationship with their peers, provide the bigger factor in a child’s social development. While in school, the student have to decide with whom to conform, either with a chosen group, or the teacher’s influence with regards to his identity, that he had seemingly impressed upon the teacher. It can help when one realizes how difficult it is to decide whether to belong to a group, or to take the risk of giving up old friends, being aware that time will come, when they will be going in different directions. One discouraging idea for an individual to pursue the satisfaction of his own self identity, is that it can be lonely. Generally, a student is not aware of the Social Identity Theory, which explains that a person has not one personal self, but rather several selves that correspond to widening circles of group membership, in which the quest for positive distinctiveness means that people’s sense of who they are is defined in terms of â€Å"we† rather than â€Å"I.† (2010) A classroom experience has the tendency to implant a lasting impact, and unbeknownst to the teachers, can affect the attitude and behavior of a student towards his learning gr owth or outlook towards himself. For example, the process by which the teachers would normally segregate the students in a classroom, based on their own judgment, which is not always true and accurate, can prove to be discouraging. There was this one student who believes he has the potential to excel. However, he has not shown that side of him yet, because there was no chance. The teacher did not see him as an achiever, therefore, he was placed among the lower set, while the perceived achievers were grouped seated separately. Naturally, he was not given an opportunity to show his bright academic side. He got easily influenced with the others in his group, who were comfortable and conveniently happy that the teachers did not expect much from them. Therefore, he did not see the importance of working and studying harder. During the final test, he got a low mark, even though, at the start of the sessions, he was confident that he has the ability to tackle complex exercises. The above ex perience may be the result of first impressions that readily form the social perception. If there is no special reason to think negatively about a person, one's first impression of that person will normally be positive, as people tend to give others the benefit of the doubt. However, people are especially attentive to negative factors, and if these are present,