Use Of A Self Handicap example essay topic

Social Psychology Application Paper: Self-HandicappingIt's the night before the big exam, and my body is not in the suitable mood to stare at notes and text in order to learn the answer to any question to be asked the next day. I know that I should, but studying isn't extremely enjoyable, especially when up against a night out and a slight morning headache. Of course I go out. In the event that the test does not go as well as I hope, my night out will be my excuse for the result. The next day's test turns out to be satisfactorily completed (as usual), though I know I could have performed better. My rather eventful night did not become my excuse for an unsatisfactory grade, but rather a pathetic justification for not seeking to achieve my finest.

To the benefit of myself, I don't particularly need to study a great deal, or even at all. I am sure this fact only lends itself to my consistently inadequate study habits. The social psychological theory demonstrated by my creation of defenses to be drawn out in the event of a failure that I knowingly insufficiently prepared for is self-handicapping. Pettijohn (1998) defines self-handicapping as "a strategy that people use to prepare for failure; people behave in ways that produce obstacles to success so that when they do fail they can place the blame on the obstacle". According to this theory of self-handicapping, I decided to spend the night out as opposed to studying in preparation for failure. In the event that I did fail, my excuse would have been the obstacle I had produced for myself the night prior.

As explained by Schrof (1993) nearly everyone will make use of a self-handicap when an important self-concept is being challenged. Schrof (1993) also suggests that those most susceptible to become chronic excuse makers are also obsessed with success. This fear of failure is what becomes the drive to create excuses in case of failure. In the study by Kimble, Kimble, & Croy (1998) there exists one chief predictor in the development of self-handicapping tendencies. The study found a linear correlation between the ages of the subjects and the degree of self-handicapping.

Young children self-handicap less than older children, who self-handicap less than adults. Self-handicapping also had a direct association with the self-esteem of the subjects; subjects with lower self esteem seemed to self-handicap more in order to protect their self esteem. Results of this study indicate that a self-affirming experience reduces the need to protect self-esteem, and thus reduces the motivation to self-handicap. According to Pillow (2001) self-handicapping is more prevalent in public, when anxiety is high, and when the task is important. Males have a higher rate of self-handicapping than females, due to higher drug and alcohol use in men. Women also tend to report physical symptoms more (Pillow, 2001).

Several studies suggest that men feel they must appear competent in all territories, while women only worry about the skills in which they " ve deeply (Schrof, 1993). In a study by Bullock & Myers (2000) alcohol is a common subject of self-handicapping when related to safe sex. Because of the supposed and advertised effects of alcohol on the ability to think rationally, many men and women use their inebriation as an excuse for practicing unsafe sex. While the causes and processes of self-handicapping could continue endlessly, there is little future for the chronic excuse makers.

In applying this research to my frequent study habits (or lack thereof) I have determined several things. First, I may have low self-esteem. My self-handicapping may be an attempt at maintaining my level of self-esteem, rather than allowing it to fall. Second, achieving success in school is important to me.

If it were not a concern, I would not need to self-handicap as an excuse for my performance. Finally, if I do not begin to make changes in my habits, I will only self-handicap more as I grow older. Though self-handicapping can be an operative means of coping with performance anxiety infrequently, in the end it is a Faustian bargain (Schrof, 1993). Over the long run, excuse makers fall short in living up to their full, impede their own goals and lose the status they care so much about. Despite their protests to the contrary, they have only themselves to blame.

Bibliography

Bullock, S., Myers, T. (2000).
Alcohol consumption and unsafe sex among casual sex Partners: Does "self-handicapping" theory explain the link? American Psychological Health Association. Kimble, C., Kimble, E., & Croy, N. (1998).
Development of Self-Handicapping Tendencies. The Journal of Social Psychology, vs. 138 (n 4), p 524. Pettijohn, T. (1998).
Psychology: A Connec Text. New York City, NY: McGraw-Hill Dushkin. Pillow, D. (2001).
The Self: Self-Handicapping. 27 March 2002.
web J. (1993).