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Conceptions of Ability, Achievement Goals, and Individual Differences in Self‐Handicapping Behavior: On the Application of Implicit Theories
Author(s) -
Rhodewalt Frederick
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
journal of personality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.082
H-Index - 144
eISSN - 1467-6494
pISSN - 0022-3506
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-6494.1994.tb00795.x
Subject(s) - psychology , competence (human resources) , social psychology , need for achievement , goal pursuit , cognition , developmental psychology , contrast (vision) , scale (ratio) , cognitive psychology , physics , quantum mechanics , neuroscience , artificial intelligence , computer science
This study tested the hypothesis that individual differences in the tendency to engage in self‐handicapping were related to beliefs about the mutability of ability attributes and the pursuit of different achievement goals. Correlational data indicated that high self‐handicappers as defined by the Self‐handicapping Scale (Jones & Rhodewalt, 1982) believed that ability traits were more innately determined. They were mote likely to endorse performance goals (demonstration of ability) than were low self‐handicappers. Low self‐handicappers, in contrast, held a more incremental view of ability traits and pursued learning goals (increasing competence). Results are discussed in terms of the cognitive underpinnings of self‐protective behavior.