An investigation of the assumptions of self-handicapping : youth responses to evaluative threat in the physical domain

Self-handicapping refers to the process whereby people proactively plan excuses for future mistakes. The interpersonal motivation to self-handicap lies in clouding any evaluation of ability, whilst the intrapersonal motivation is the protection of self-esteem. On the surface, self-handicapping represents somewhat health ego-centrism, but if used continually, pathological internalisation is a possibility. This thesis investigated some of the assumptions held for self-handicapping by exploring how a stratified random sample of young people aged between 10 and 16, self-handicapped when faced with an evaluative threat within the physical domain.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

phd

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Victoria University of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2004

Author dc:creator

• Cooley, Dean

• 1701 Psychology
• School of Sport and Exercise Science

Language dc:language

en