Abstract
In the last decade, adolescent drop out has been aggravated by the great economic and social crisis experienced in Europe. Despite the identity challenge posed by development in risk contexts, it is possible to find students who develop specific skills which allow them to remain in the education system. We studied the learner identity of students in Secondary Post-Compulsory Education from schools in Areas in Need of Social Transformation, paying special attention to agency and resilience. Their identity as learners was explored through an interview applied in a focus group format, where their supports, strengths and psycho-social obstacles that facilitate/hinder their stay in the education system in the post-compulsory stage were identified. Results show that adolescents have a good attitude towards academic training, based on the conviction that, in the future, they will be able to achieve a higher quality of life and a rapid insertion in skilled jobs. The image students have of themselves combines a negative perception of their lack of work habits, the difficulty of self-regulation and the little effort made, with a more positive view of their agency in the process, highlighting their intellectual and academic capacity and their effort when they set out to do so. We consider these data to be fundamental for identifying risk and protection factors within a prevention and intervention approach.
Presenters
Rosario Cubero-PérezAssociate Professor, Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of Seville, Sevilla, Spain Mercedes Cubero
Associate Professor, Experimental Psychology, University of Seville, Spain Miguel Jesús Bascón
PhD (Doctor of psychology), Experimental Psychology, Universidad de Sevilla, Spain Jose Antonio Matías García
Substitute university teacher, Experimental Psychology, Universidad de Sevilla, Spain Andrés Santamaría
Associated Professor, Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Seville (Spain), Sevilla, Spain
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2023 Special Focus: Agency in an Era of Displacement and Social Change
KEYWORDS
Agency, Learner Identity, School Dropout, Resilience, Social Exclusion
