Choosing to fail?

I’m sure we all agree that it is our individuals selves that are mostly responsible for our successes.  If you study hard, you get the good grades.  If you apply yourself, you will do better.  If you believe in yourself you will.  But what about when we do not think this way, and instead think things like, “Good grades aren’t all that important,” and “I’m going to fail anyway, so what’s the use?”  The use of self-serving strategies can be greatly detrimental to development, especially in terms of education and cognition.

Perhaps one of the most dangerous self-serving strategies is that of self-handicapping.  Self-handicapping involves the self-creation of barriers to achievements before achievements have been made (Schneider, Gruman, & Coutts, 2012).  Essentially, an individual will sabotage their chances of success as defense mechanism against sharp jabs to self-esteem.  The example above, “I’m going to fail anyway, so what’s the use?” could be described as a self-handicapping statement.  Now imagine that the individual that said this had a big test the next morning, but decided to forgo studying and went to a party with alcohol instead, where they drank too much and stayed up too late, further hindering their success, all because they thought they would fail anyway.  The individuals furthered their self-handicapping and backed up their own claims when they indeed did poorly on the test the following day.  In this way, the individual avoided the blame for a poor grade and placed it on the fact they were up late partying (Schneider et al., 2012).

While initially, self-handicapping might protect the self-esteem of the individual, researchers have revealed that over time, self-handicapping can lead to serious consequences for academic performance and achievement (Schneider et al., 2012).  Over time, this behavior may actually prevent an individual from accepting even a desired positive achievement (Schneider et al., 2012).  Self-handicapping as a way to avoid the distress of doing poorly academically is just the beginning.  Researchers also warned that individuals who show consistent self-handicapping strategies may also adjust more poorly and also use other negative coping strategies (Schneider et al., 2012).

In order to combat self-handicapping, it is important, of course, to first understand what it is and how it can be detrimental.  From a short-term standpoint, self-handicapping preserves self-esteem when a negative outcome occurs.  But from a long-term perspective, self-handicapping offers no favors to users.  In order to cease self-handicapping behaviors, it is suggested that individuals devote more time to ensuring that they are prepared for future events, rather than devoting time that accepts a potential poor outcome before it has even occured (Schneider et al., 2012).  To put it blatantly, and if using the same example from above, study for the test, do not go out drinking, and get a good night’s sleep.  Using that time to improve the chances of a successful outcome is a better use of time, and also better serves the goal to achieve.  Any other tactic will hinder achievement, and will only preserve image for so long.

Schneider, F. W., Gruman, J. A., & Coutts, L. M. (2012). Applied Social Psychology:  Understanding and Addressing Social and Practical Problems. Second Edition. Sage.

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4 comments

  1. Stephanie R Subedi

    Self Handicapping is an issue. I am having a huge issue with this right now. All the negative thinking and self criticism is getting the best of me these days. It is kind of like I am self sabotaging myself, but I am exhausted everyday and I should be able to do more. What series of actions do you think could help make a difference?

  2. Self-handicapping is a problem that we face in academics, and I feel that we probably have all done this to ourselves at one point or another. I think a major problem is how can we make people feel more positive not only about themselves, but about their work? I think it’s a bad cycle that really involved self-esteem. Self-esteem seems to be at the center of many issues right now (mental illness, bullying, etc.). But on the other hand, self-handicapping can also affect how someone approaches their role in their mistakes. So the question really is, how do we help people be confident in their abilities and work, but also make sure they know that they are responsible for their failure? I feel like these two problems do not necessarily go hand-in-hand and may be counter-effective. Which one should we prioritize more? I think this is something that may be better handled on an individualized basis.

  3. Jennie Karlene Walter

    I like how you decided to write about self handicapping as I agree with you that it is a pressing issue especially in the field of academics. I can definitely see why people do this to protect their self esteem so they can put the blame of their failures of a third party of some sort instead of owning up to them. It was interesting to find out though how overtime self handicapping can become even more detrimental, with people even not accepting coveted achievements or opportunities. I think it could possibly be beneficial to education about self handicapping at a middle school or high school level. Teaching students before they head to college the consequences of self handicapping could be beneficial and lead them not to partake in it later down the road.

  4. What are actions do you think can combat this kind of thinking?
    This correlates with positive thinking, and positive thoughts can be manifested into good things. I have experienced self sabotage, it seems that many times we are in our own heads. We often times talk ourselves out of good things.

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