The Response of Children with ADHD to Failure: If at First You Don't Succeed, Do You Try, Try, Again?

Abstract

This review describes a series of studies employing a learned helplessness paradigm to examine the response to failure of boys with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In two studies, the persistence and performance attributions of boys with ADHD and nonreferred boys were contrasted; in two other studies, the performance of boys with ADHD was examined under both medication and placebo states. Results revealed that boys with ADHD exhibit many of the characteristics of helpless children. However, unlike what has been established for normal children, boys with ADHD making external attributions for failure actually exhibited a more adaptive response style. In contrast, boys with ADHD making effort attributions for failure were less adaptive and performed more like helpless nonreferred children. Finally, the results provided strong evidence that the use of methylphenidate exerts desirable cognitive-motivational effects. Not only did it enhance performance but such pharmacological treatment seems to facilitate an enhanced mastery orientation when boys with ADHD are challenged.

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Notes on contributors

Richard Milich

Richard Milich, PhD, is Professor and Associate Chair in the Department of Psychology at the University of Kentucky. He has been involved in research in the area of ADHD for the past 16 years, with a special interest in understanding the peer problems these children experience. He was recently appointed Associate Editor of the Journal of Abnormal Psychology.