Impression Management Aspects of Self-Handicapping: Positive and Negative Effects

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to explore observers' reactions to an individual who self-handicaps. Subjects viewed a videotape in which the target either self-handicapped (went to a movie instead of studying) or did not self-handicap. Subjects were also informed that the target did well, average, or poorly on a subsequent exam. Consistency of prior self-handicapping was manipulated in Experiment 1 but had no effect. Results showed that (a) an ordinary behavior seems quite capable of serving as a self-handicap and (b) self-handicapping reduced negative attributions to ability but led to more negative attributions about personal characteristics, thus having a mixed impact as an impression management strategy. In addition, it is suggested that an observer of a self-handicapping behavior need not be aware of a self-handicapping motivation but that the context must allow for the plausibility of such motivation.