A parent who encourages competitiveness in a child who excels in a single sport may foster which feeling?

A parent who encourages competitiveness in a child who excels in a single sport may foster which feeling?

• A. Competence
• B. Insecurity
• C. Significance
• D. Worthiness

Answer: (B)

When a parent emphasizes winning and external success for a child who already excels in one sport, the child’s self-worth can start to hinge on how well they perform. The pressure to constantly outdo others and meet high expectations creates anxiety about failing or letting others down. That fear and need to prove oneself can turn confidence in skill into a fragile sense of self that relies on outcomes, not on effort or growth. In this environment, the child may feel insecure about their value if they don’t consistently meet those competitive standards, even if they are highly capable. While the child may appear competent in the sport, the pressure shifts the emotional experience from steady confidence to worry about evaluation and judgment. It’s less about feeling valued for who they are and more about feeling valued for how well they perform, which is the hallmark of insecurity. The other feelings would require a sense of unconditional acceptance or a stable sense of personal significance that isn’t tied to every victory or loss.

When a parent emphasizes winning and external success for a child who already excels in one sport, the child’s self-worth can start to hinge on how well they perform. The pressure to constantly outdo others and meet high expectations creates anxiety about failing or letting others down. That fear and need to prove oneself can turn confidence in skill into a fragile sense of self that relies on outcomes, not on effort or growth. In this environment, the child may feel insecure about their value if they don’t consistently meet those competitive standards, even if they are highly capable.

While the child may appear competent in the sport, the pressure shifts the emotional experience from steady confidence to worry about evaluation and judgment. It’s less about feeling valued for who they are and more about feeling valued for how well they perform, which is the hallmark of insecurity. The other feelings would require a sense of unconditional acceptance or a stable sense of personal significance that isn’t tied to every victory or loss.