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Social Basis of Self-Handicapping

The Case of Depression

University of Colorado at Denver

Mitchell M. Handelsman

University of Colorado at Denver

This study examined the idea that psychopathology can be used to avoid responsibility for undesirable behavior. Subjects responded to vignettes describing either male or female protagonists involved in one of two situations: domestic violence or poor job performance. There were three levels of information on psychopathology: (I) no symptoms, (2) current symptoms of depression, and (3) symptoms combined with consistency information about depression. Subjects answered questions that assessed the excuse value of depression in terms of attributions, sanctions, and behavioral expectations. Depressive symptoms significantly reduced attributions of personal responsibility across situations. Symptoms led to less punitive sanctions for the female protagonist in the abuse situation, and for both males and females in the job situation. Depressed symptoms had to be accompanied by consistency information to lower behavioral expectations in the job situation. The findings are discussed in terms of the social basis for self handicapping strategies.

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				J. Luginbuhl and R. Palmer Impression Management Aspects of Self-Handicapping: Positive and Negative Effects Pers Soc Psychol Bull, December 1, 1991; 17(6): 655 - 662. [Abstract]