Persistence (psychology)

Under endurance ( perseverance, endurance, stamina, Perseveranz ) is understood in psychology, pedagogy and philosophy, founded on the character of a person's ability, be able to track a target with undiminished motivation if the effort over a longer period or against resistors must be maintained.

Distinction between

A match of intent and behavior is also referred to with the term consequence. As a consequence, describes an observable, concrete, individual behavior, concepts such as persistence and perseverance on skills and general behavior tendencies are applied.

Terms such resoluteness, determination, determination and will power design motivation rather than a single event rather than as a long-term effort. Diligence not called so much the ability to resist fatigue, but the willingness to work a lot. Skills such as equanimity, constancy, commitment, loyalty and the like refer to as endurance a characteristically reasoned consistency and uniformity of behavior, however, are not directed at specific goals. Patience, however, is indeed based on a target, implies instead an effort, however, a waiting or endurance.

Stubbornness denotes the same as stamina, implies - as defiance and stubbornness - but mostly criticism of the objective pursued and is therefore a negative connotation:

" My father had various virtues - but he also had a strong aftertaste of a property in its essence, one could be counted among the virtues, depending on the or not. The same for a good cause, perseverance, and at a terrible obstinacy means. "

Psychological and educational perspective

Persistence and success

Since the 1980s, are increasing in psychology research findings that no intelligence is the most powerful predictor of academic and professional success, but perseverance. So gifted children get used when the ambient designed her talent as " innate ", easily the fact that they not only need seemingly nothing to do for school success, but also can not do anything about it. As a result, these children often lack basal work habits, what if the school requirements rise in the 7th or 8th grade level, can lead to a breakdown of self-esteem and motivation. The American psychologist Carol S. Dweck ( born 1946 ) distinguishes between two types of students: the first holds success for a matter of talent, errors can not stand it and break if the process does not work, helpless together; the second is based on the task masters and has internalized the belief that success has to be worked hard. Could be detected as well as in empirical studies, the chances of success of the latter type are much higher than that of the former.

Education for endurance

In the educational counselor literature contains a wealth of advice on how children can be trained to endurance. Called the first place is always the good example of their parents, do not give up the projects, but also remain in their own affairs in the matter. Second, encourage competent parents their child to face challenges that will require a reasonable endurance. Third, they clearly express their expectation that an abandonment of the child does not come into question.

Clinical Psychology

Insufficient perseverance is considered a symptom of attention deficit disorder ADHD. Affected children hold jobs that require cognitive use, not long by and generally tend to switch from one activity to another without bringing something to an end.

As clinical psychologist Wendy Mogel has emphasized in her book, The Blessings of a Skinned Knee, but you do not need in behavioral problems such as lack of endurance in each case equal to think of a pathology, but must also take of character issues into consideration, where appropriate by a education can be counteracted.

Philosophical perspective

The North German philosopher Friedrich Paulsen uses the term in his system of ethics with an outline of the political and social theory (1889 ), in which he referred to the perseverance as a "form of bravery, the strength of will to endure discomfort of all kinds ." A similar provision of perseverance is also found in Friedrich Schleiermacher.

Cultural connotations

In the cultural discourse of the English-speaking area, particularly the United States, the Perseverence enjoys a very high reputation today. In urban slang, a trooper is someone who uncomplainingly for a long time by holding an exertion or exposure time. The social type of person who never gives up, is sometimes referred to in English as the Bulldog. The opposite, a quitter is someone who always gives up quickly.

In German without the corresponding expressions. For this purpose, the notion of place here, " endurance ", which usually refers to a foolish perseverance and implies that the person concerned would be well advised to shake the cause of his suffering. However, the German knows the term " announcement world champion," which denotes someone who promises much, his announcements - whether from calculated dishonesty, from forgetfulness, overconfidence or shortness of breath - but does not fulfill.