ABSTRACT

The present article analyses the series of strategies designed by the pupil to protect his self-image when facing school failure. It attempts to identify those components of the self-image that may be affected by school failure and to present a number of self-defense mechanisms to which the pupil appeals in sittuations ofthis kind.

KEYWORDS:  self-concept,  self-presentation,  self-esteem,  metaperception, cognitive disonance, rationalization.