Self-handicapping is a cognitive strategy by which people avoid effort in the hope of keeping potential failure from damaging their self-esteem. It was first theorized by the psychologists Edward E. Jones and Steven Berglas, who described self-handicaps as obstacles a person creates, or merely claims to face, in anticipation of a failing performance.
Facts
Core ClaimA cognitive strategy by which people avoid effort in the hope of keeping potential failure from hurting self-esteem. 1 First Described Year Classification
Type of Phenomenon Sources
1. Self-handicapping (Wikipedia)
Lead paragraphQuote, Lead paragraph
Self-handicapping is a cognitive strategy by which people avoid effort in the hopes of keeping potential failure from hurting self-esteem.
2. PubMed, National Library of Medicine: Drug choice as a self-handicapping strategy in response to noncontingent success
PubMed, National Library of MedicinePubMed citation lineQuote, PubMed citation line
J Pers Soc Psychol. 1978 Apr;36(4):405-17.
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