Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Self-reported versus behavioral self-handicapping: empirical evidence for a theoretical distinction.

E R Hirt1, R K Deppe, L J Gordon

  • 1University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
|December 1, 1991
PubMed
Summary

This study explored self-handicapping strategies. When given a choice, individuals preferred reporting stress over avoiding practice to protect self-esteem.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Technical note: Impact of a molasses-based liquid feed supplement on the feed sorting behavior and growth of grain-fed veal calves.

Journal of animal science·2016
Same author

Physicians' disagreements about life-sustaining treatments: a case study.

HEC forum : an interdisciplinary journal on hospitals' ethical and legal issues·2001
Same author

An examination of the educational needs for environmental health and protection.

Journal of public health management and practice : JPHMP·2000
Same author

From nuclear bombs to food safety: a personal odyssey.

Journal of public health policy·2000
Same author

Vasoactive intestinal peptide induces both tyrosine hydroxylase activity and tetrahydrobiopterin biosynthesis in PC12 cells.

Neuroscience·1998
Same author

Banking: financing trends in an acquisitive health care market--focus on long-term care.

Journal of health care finance·1998

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Social Psychology
  • Self-Handicapping Theory

Background:

  • Self-handicapping is a strategy individuals use to protect their self-esteem.
  • Two primary forms of self-handicapping are behavioral (e.g., not practicing) and self-reported (e.g., claiming high stress).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how individuals choose between behavioral and self-reported self-handicapping options.
  • To examine the influence of perceived effects of stress and practice on test performance on this choice.

Main Methods:

  • Participants (Ss) anticipated a diagnostic intellectual ability test.
  • Participants received different instructions on how stress and practice affect test scores.
  • Participants were offered opportunities for behavioral (withdrawing practice) and self-reported (reporting stress) handicaps.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • High self-handicapping individuals of both sexes exhibited self-reported handicapping.
  • Only high self-handicapping men engaged in behavioral self-handicapping.
  • When both options were available, both men and women preferred self-reported handicaps over behavioral ones.

Conclusions:

  • Self-reported handicaps are a preferred strategy over behavioral ones, especially when both are available.
  • Gender differences exist in the manifestation of behavioral self-handicapping.
  • This preference may be linked to maintaining self-esteem while providing an excuse for potential failure.