General Self-Concept, Self-Concept of Academic Ability and School Achievement: Implications for “Causes” of Self-Concept

The research on relationships between general self-concept and school achievement and between self-concept of academic ability and school achievement was reviewed. Findings are now sufficient to indicate that school achievement is “causally predominant” over self-concept of academic ability. Demographic research in regard to differences relating to sex, socio-economic status, ethnicity, race, birth order, and age was also examined. Few demographically based conclusions were found to be warranted. The primary contributing factors to self-concept of academic ability are hypothesized to be the child's actual achievement or ability; the social feedback from significant others about that achievement, dissonances between that feedback and the actual ability, and the child's comparison group.