Lack of concentration, fear of failure and perfectionism. How the minds of students work
A survey conducted over the past year shows that the study-related difficulties most frequently experienced by students seeking mental help, involve lack of concentration, fear of failure and perfectionism. All three can be seen from the same point of view. Students know that there are many uncertainties and possible frustrations on the road to the final goal, e.g., finding something very difficult to understand, having difficulty making oneself familiar with something, or realizing there is not enough time left. The most destructive thought, which almost always lurking, is ‘I can’t master this at all’. More specifically, a lack of concentration can be seen as avoiding behavior and the fear of failure as the unwillingness to accept some form of failure and refusing to accept oneself as the one who failed. Perfectionism is usually caused by the absolute demand on oneself to reach a certain level of performance.
Generally speaking, our brains have a strong tendency to prefer short-term over long-term gratification. Most students are not very aware of this phenomenon or that they can be cheated by it. They ‘believe’ their brain when it tells them: ‘you must first look at this or that on your smartphone’, or ‘first make sure you do this other task’, or ‘you are too tired right now to study at all’. They often talk about these messages as if things beyond their own control are making them do something. They might say: 'As soon as I want to study, I get distracted by things.’ In reality, they do not get distracted by things, but distract themselves by using these things. They distract themselves to avoid studying because they are afraid that they might encounter (very) unpleasant things. By realizing this, they can regain their control.
A greater awareness of how their minds work can help students understand why they have distracting thoughts when they try to study. Besides many good things, studying also entails frustrations and destructive feelings and thoughts, which they do not have to give in to. Teachers can help students by discouraging them from thinking that they may not be good enough and by incorporating into their own language and approach the fact that studying and research often entails difficulties, frustration and even despair. Teachers and student psychologists can help them by pointing out that they should not try to avoid the unpleasant parts, as these are inevitable, and that they should accept their failures and themselves as someone who fails from time to time. They can learn to change the paralyzing demands they place on themselves into strong desires which are activating instead of paralyzing.
Albert Einstein said once: “Do not worry about your difficulties in mathematics. I can assure you mine are still greater.”
Wouter Backx, student psychologist, (psychotherapist)
