Perceptions of Causes and Long-term Effects of Academic Underachievement in High IQ Adults

Oct 3, 2026

A study examines the causes and long-term effects of academic underachievement as perceived by high IQ adults, giving voice to experiences rarely explored in prior research on high IQ children. Using a mixed quantitative/qualitative design, 158 British Mensa members completed semi-structured open-ended questionnaires, and a subset of 50 participants reported adult reversal. Ten one-to-one interviews provided deeper detail, linking delayed achievement to adverse educational, economic, and mental well-being trajectories and emphasizing “intellectual neglect.”

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages449

Reading Time18 h 51 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Background of the Research

Aims of the Research

Definitions of Important Terms Relevant to the Research

Sources of Bias Inherent to the Research

Scope of the Study

Brief Description of the Methodology

Originality and Significance of the Research

Structure of the Dissertation

Perceptions of Causes and Long-term Effects of Academic Underachievement in High IQ Adults A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Anne Madeleine Marie FAVIER-TOWNSEND School of Education University of Hertfordshire June 2014 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Motivation for undertaking this research came from my son’s educational experiences. This dissertation is dedicated to him and to all who have followed similar paths. The study could never have come to fruition without the foresight of my colleague, the late Dr Jenny Plastow, the advice , support and encouragement of my supervisors, Professor Helen Payne and Rosemary Allen and the members of Mensa, the High IQ Society , who participated in the study. The former guided me and encouraged me on my doctoral journey and the latter provided the rich data needed to understand the issues at stake. To all of the above and to my part-time research assistant, Marc Slater, I am truly thankful. Most of all I will be forever grateful to Rob, my husband ‘sans pareil’, for containing his bewilderment about my embarking on this academic venture at such an advanced age. His invaluable, yet discreet and very patient support has been tremendous and remarkable. As aby-product of these doctoral studies and my unavailability, he has become an even better cook as well as a poker champion. We are now both looking forward to getting our lives back on track and to enjoying joint ventures! Perceptions of Causes and Long-term Effects of Academic Underachievement in High IQ Adults ABSTRACT A great deal is known and has been written about the difficulties that high IQ children can experience in the classroom when their special educational needs are not met. Evidence suggests that these difficulties can result in poor academic performance. This study is different from the research carried out in this field so far in that it expresses an hitherto unheard adult voice. It does so by examining the causes and the long-term effects of academic underachievement, as perceived by high IQ adults , on reflection. A mixed quantitative/qualitative methodological approach was used. 158 members of British Mensa, the High IQ Society , completed one semi-structured open ended questionnaire about their perceptions of the causes and long-term effects of their academic underachievement. A second questionnaire was completed by 50 of the previous sample who had revealed that they had reversed their underachievement in adulthood. This highlighted the differences between their educational experiences as children and as adults. It also revealed the impact that their delayed academic achievement had had on their life trajectory. Out of those 50 participants , ten took part in semi-structured one-to-one interviews which allowed for more in-depth enquiry. The conclusions of the study were that, if not nurtured, an innate ability such as a high IQ can become a disadvantage over time. It suggests that not catering for the special educational needs of high IQ children by not providing the mental stimulation they need is ‘intellectual neglect’. Such neglect, like physical and emotional neglect, may affect mental well-being in adulthood. In the study sample, most of the participants’ long-term economic and mental health had been negatively affected by their academic underachievement, even when it had been reversed in adulthood. This is an area which seems to have been little researched so far , perhaps because of the difficulty of locating high IQ underachieving adults. Yet, the issues highlighted by the research are of great importance not only to the individuals concerned but also to society. The desired outcomes of this study are that the dissemination of the results will raise awareness amongst educators and policy makers of the potential negative long-term effects of neglecting high IQ children’s intellectual needs. It will also provide a platform for f

FAQs

What research question does the thesis address?

It examines the perceived causes and long-term effects of academic underachievement in high IQ adults, using their reflections and adult experiences.

How was the study conducted?

A mixed quantitative/qualitative approach was used. 158 British Mensa members completed a semi-structured open-ended questionnaire, 50 of them completed a second questionnaire about adult reversal, and ten participated in one-to-one interviews.

What does the study conclude about untreated high IQ potential?

If not nurtured, innate ability such as high IQ can become a disadvantage over time. The thesis frames failure to meet special educational needs as “intellectual neglect” with possible impacts on adult mental well-being.

Oct 3, 2026

Upload by 404brain