Third, the misdirected motives of some adults may have an underlying positive goal. Parents who feel disappointed in themselves may put unreasonable pressure on their children to succeed.

Some parents may exert this pressure to ensure that their children will not feel the disappointment they have experienced. Others may want to experience a feeling of accomplishment through the success of their children. Unfortunately, this may not be as satisfying as the parent had hoped, leading to more pressure on the child to succeed at a greater level.