THE MULTIDIMENSIONAL SELF-CONCEPT - A COMPARISON OF GIFTED AND AVERAGE-ABILITY ADOLESCENTS

The purpose of this paper is to describe the self-concept of gifted an d average-ability adolescents from a multidimensional perspective. Fou r dimensions of self-concept (academic, social, athletic, and social) were examined using an instrument that incorporates three theoretical perspectives (reflected. appraisals, social comparison, and attributio n). Ninety-eight junior high school students from a large urban centre in Western Canada participated in the study. Results of a MANOVA foll owed by a discriminant analysis indicated that gifted students differ in self-concept from average-ability adolescents, particularly in term s of academic self-concept.