Event Title
Observer's Perceptions of Self-Handicappers' and Sandbaggers' Motives
Location
CSU 204
Start Date
23-4-2007 10:00 AM
End Date
23-4-2007 12:00 PM
Student's Major
Psychology
Student's College
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Mentor's Name
Daniel Sachau
Mentor's Department
Psychology
Mentor's College
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Description
The purpose of the study is to examine how observers perceive the motives of people who sandbag and selfhandicap. Sandbagging is a self-presentation strategy involving a false claim of inability. Self-handicapping is a self-presentation strategy involving a true claim of inability. People use sandbagging and selfhandicapping so that observers will have low expectations for the sandbagger's or self-handicapper's performance. In this study, I asked which of these strategies leads to a more favorable impression? I created sixteen short scenarios where an actor or target in the scenario makes a claim prior to performing in competition. One half of the targets claim an injury, and one half of the targets do not claim an injury. Across these conditions, one-half of the targets are described as actually having the injury (self-handicap), one-half are described as not having the injury (sandbagging). Scenarios were divided once again such that one half of the targets proceed to fail and one half succeed in this 2 (claim/not claim) x 2 (not have/have) x 2 (failure/success) factorial deign. Students enrolled in introductory psychology courses participated in this study. Participants were randomly assigned two scenarios to be read. Participants rated the target in each scenario on: likeability, trustworthiness, competence and friendliness. The students also completed the Janis-Field Self-Esteem Scale, the Self-Handicapping Scale, and the Sandbagging Scale. I predicted that there would be a penalty for claiming any injury. I predicted that sandbaggers would be rated more negatively than self-handicappers particularly in success conditions. Trust Formation
Observer's Perceptions of Self-Handicappers' and Sandbaggers' Motives
CSU 204
The purpose of the study is to examine how observers perceive the motives of people who sandbag and selfhandicap. Sandbagging is a self-presentation strategy involving a false claim of inability. Self-handicapping is a self-presentation strategy involving a true claim of inability. People use sandbagging and selfhandicapping so that observers will have low expectations for the sandbagger's or self-handicapper's performance. In this study, I asked which of these strategies leads to a more favorable impression? I created sixteen short scenarios where an actor or target in the scenario makes a claim prior to performing in competition. One half of the targets claim an injury, and one half of the targets do not claim an injury. Across these conditions, one-half of the targets are described as actually having the injury (self-handicap), one-half are described as not having the injury (sandbagging). Scenarios were divided once again such that one half of the targets proceed to fail and one half succeed in this 2 (claim/not claim) x 2 (not have/have) x 2 (failure/success) factorial deign. Students enrolled in introductory psychology courses participated in this study. Participants were randomly assigned two scenarios to be read. Participants rated the target in each scenario on: likeability, trustworthiness, competence and friendliness. The students also completed the Janis-Field Self-Esteem Scale, the Self-Handicapping Scale, and the Sandbagging Scale. I predicted that there would be a penalty for claiming any injury. I predicted that sandbaggers would be rated more negatively than self-handicappers particularly in success conditions. Trust Formation
Recommended Citation
Korngable, Jeannie M.. "Observer's Perceptions of Self-Handicappers' and Sandbaggers' Motives." Undergraduate Research Symposium, Mankato, MN, April 23, 2007.
https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/urs/2007/oral-session-04/1
