Self-Handicapping

Definition

Self-handicapping was first defined in 1978 by Steven Berglas and Edward Jones as “any action or choice of performance setting that enhances the opportunity to externalize (or excuse) failure and to internalize (reasonably accept credit for) success.” Self-handicapping involves putting a barrier or handicap in the way of one's own success. If one fails, then the failure can be blamed on the handicap rather than on (the lack of) one's innate ability. If one succeeds despite the handicap, then one can claim extra credit for success because one succeeded despite the impediment to success. Thus, self-handicapping both protects the person from the implications of failure and enhances the success if one should succeed despite the handicap. Self-handicapping may be used to protect or enhance a person's own self-image and public reputation. Although self-handicapping may protect one from implications of failure, self-handicapping is a trade-off, and there are both short and long-term consequences of self-handicapping. Self-handicapping limits success and increases the probability for failure, both immediately and in the future. Chronic self-handicappers also exhibit poorer achievement and poorer adjustment over time.

Examples

One example of self-handicapping is staying out and partying the night before a big exam. If the person does poorly on the exam, he or she can blame it on partying all night. If the person does well on the exam, he or she can take credit for doing well on the exam despite partying the night before. Researchers have cited many other examples of self-handicapping, which include procrastination, underachievement (or low effort), alcohol or drug use or abuse, test anxiety, getting too little sleep, underpreparing or inadequate practice before evaluation, exaggerating the effects of an injury or illness, complaints of physical symptoms or hypochondriacal complaints, traumatic life events, shyness, and choosing extremely difficult or unattainable goals.

Causes and Purpose

Researchers believe that self-handicapping is caused by feelings of uncertainty about future performance, especially when others have high expectations of success. Self-handicapping appears to be a self-protective mechanism, protecting one's self-esteem from the potentially damaging effects of failure while enhancing attributions for success. If one fails, a self-handicapper can blame failure on external causes and can thus maintain and protect self-esteem. If one succeeds, a self-handicapper can take credit for succeeding despite external obstacles, increasing self-esteem.

There has been debate about whether one engages in self-handicapping to protect and enhance one's own self-image or to protect and enhance one's public reputation. Berglas and Jones's original self-handicapping construct defined self-handicapping as a strategy to protect both a person's self and public images and presented evidence consistent with both the public and private functions of the attributions. Other research has suggested, however, that self-handicapping only protects a person's public reputation. For instance, one study found that self-handicapping was reduced when others were not present to evaluate the person's performance on a task. Current consensus is that selfhandicapping sometimes may occur for the protection of private self-image, but it is even more common in public circumstances.

If a person self-handicaps to protect his or her public image, however, the strategy may backfire and may not improve a person's reputation. Research has found that people do not like those who self-handicap. Selfhandicappers are disliked more and rated more negatively on several variables by others evaluating them than are those who do not self-handicap.

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