ABSTRACT
There has been growing concern with adolescence as a time of risk. By whatever criteria one uses, a substantial portion of US adolescents are not succeeding: Between 15% and 30% drop out of school before completing high school, adolescents have the highest arrest rate of any age group, and increasing numbers of adolescents consume alcohol and other drugs on a regular basis. Several investigators have reported mean level declines at early adolescence in School motivational constructs as interest in school, intrinsic motivation, theories about the nature of ability, and self-concepts. Negative change in the affective relationship between students and teachers is also one of the characteristic changes associated with the junior high school transition. A theoretical rationale has been outlined for the average level declines in motivation and self-evaluation associated with the junior high school transition.
