Costs of Self‐Handicapping

2005/01/17 by Miron Zuckerman, Fen‐Fang Tsai · 1 citation
Psychology · Social Sciences · #Behavioral Health and Interventions #Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction #Social and Intergroup Psychology #Psychology #Trait #Competence (human resources) #Mood #Social psychology #Self-esteem #Developmental psychology #Self-concept

paper · doi:10.1111/j.1467-6494.2005.00314.x

openalex publication_date 2005/01/17 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/06

Abstract

Four studies examined the relation of trait self-handicapping with health-related measures. Study 1 showed that, over time, self-handicapping and maladjustment reinforce each other. Study 2 showed that self-handicappers reported a loss in competence satisfaction which, in turn, mediated the relation of self-handicapping with negative mood. Study 3 found that, over time, self-handicappers report an increase in substance use. Study 4 showed that self-handicappers reported a loss in intrinsic motivation for their jobs. It was suggested that people with unstable (or contingent) self-esteem use self-handicapping to bolster a fragile self-concept.

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Cited by

• Self-enhancement [wikipedia]