A Motivational Analysis of Defensive Pessimism and Self‐Handicapping

Andrew J. Elliot · Marcy A. Church

250 citations0/0 files storedJournal of Personality

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Education, Achievement, and Giftedness Perfectionism, Procrastination, Anxiety Studies Optimism, Hope, and Well-being

Abstract

Two studies examined motivational influences on and correlates of defensive pessimism and self-handicapping and investigated the relationship between these two cognitive strategies and performance attainment. The findings indicated that defensive pessimism and self-handicapping have similar motivational profiles, with the primary difference being that self-handicapping represents the absence of approach motivation in the achievement domain, as well as the presence of avoidance motivation. Self-handicapping, but not defensive pessimism, was shown to undermine performance-attainment, and performance-avoidance goals were validated as mediators of this negative relationship. Issues regarding the functional nature of the two cognitive strategies are discussed.

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References

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