You studied your chosen subject for a long time and devoted a lot of time to additional classes. At first, you were full of enthusiasm, but after a while, your motivation began to fade, and then you decided that you were disappointed and no longer want to continue studying. Together with a clinical psychologist, we will figure out what the causes of such a crisis are, how to cope with it, and how to regain the desire to study.
Is it possible to develop an interest in learning
Everything starts in childhood. Usually, parents resort to external motivation – gifts, money, sweets for good grades. But such a system doesn’t work: the psychologist Alfie Kohn in his book “Punishing with a Reward” notes that the schoolchild continues to study with average grades, but already with resentment if he doesn’t get the desired encouragement.
At first, the child enthusiastically accepts the rules of the game, but then his or her self-preservation instinct kicks in. For example, it is possible not to learn, but think who can write my essay for me. Then a good grade is in your pocket: it means a reward.
When the child does not comply with the requirements of parents or does it poorly, the parent should think about how adequate the requirement itself is. Parents need to reach a level of cooperation with the child: learn to negotiate, listen to the opinion, correctly convey their position. The teenager should feel his importance in solving the problem. Only in this case, the teenager will have an enthusiasm for learning in the future.
Why have you lost interest in your studies
- Problems with comprehension
Interest in learning can be lost if you do not understand the subject: perhaps the teacher did not explain the topic clearly, the material in the textbook is too complicated, or you missed something important. In this case, you need to try to catch up.
- The plateau of learning
In the 1920s and 30s, American scientists drew the so-called learning curve – a graph of the rate of learning vs. learning time. At first, when a person is just getting acquainted with new material, the mastering of skill happens quickly. At this point, the motivation to learn keeps at a high level. As learning continues, progress slows down, and the student reaches what is called a learning plateau. During this period, he may not have any noticeable successes or bright results. On the contrary, there may be a feeling that efforts are of no use. Related to this is the fact that you have lost interest in learning. If not abandoned at this point, a qualitative leap in the learning of skill eventually occurs, and motivation returns
- Change of Interest
You were engaged in the subject while he seemed to need it, but then his priorities changed. For example, you changed your mind to go to medical school and abandoned chemistry, or decided to become an artist, not an economist, and stopped learning math.
- Disappointment in the chosen goal
You dreamed of a certain profession, but after learning more about it, you realized that it does not suit you. For example, you wanted to become a doctor and treat people, but you found out that doctors deal with blood, and you do not like it. Many parents in this situation begin to persuade their child to go into a related field, such as science, where you do not have to deal with blood and other bodily fluids. If you wanted to learn exactly the helping profession, the work in science you may not be satisfied at all. There is no need to be frightened by this. On the contrary, it is good that you realized your mistake and can now change direction and effectively prepare for another specialty.
- Doubts about your success
You have lost confidence in yourself: you feel that you have no prospects, you will not be able to pass the exam with a high score, you will not be able to cope with the additional entrance tests, you will not get into the university of your dreams or in your chosen direction.
- Stress
A popular reason for losing interest in learning, extracurricular activities is stress, which takes all the energy. You simply don’t have the resources to maintain your need to learn.
How to increase interest in learning
- Share your problem
Everyone has faced situations when they couldn’t do something, and then it worked out: everyone you know or relatives can have such situations. Talk to them, ask them how they overcame difficulties.
- Take notes of intermediate successes
It’s important to measure your progress not against the ideal, but yourself at the previous stage. This will help you to enjoy the whole process, not just the result, and to generate interest in learning.
- Take a time out
A change of activity will help you switch and feel interested in the subject again. Take a family vacation or allow yourself to stay home for a day or two. You will recuperate and be able to continue your studies.
- Talk to a psychologist
This will help you to understand the situation, better understand yourself, and thus cope with these states more effectively.