Self-handicapping strategies: Theoretical foundations, determinants, and characteristics

Self-handicapping strategies that were first described by Berglas and Jones (1978) consist in creating the existence of obstacles or proclaiming those obstacles (Leary & Shepperd, 1986) before an assessment or an achievement situation that could threaten the self (Snyder & Smith, 1982). The scientific works on these strategies are based on different theoretical frameworks and are particularly varied mainly because of their multiple manifestations. The purpose of the present article is to review the literature in order to identify the converging elements of the theories that are most often used to account for the use of self-handicapping strategies, namely attributional theories, self-presentation theory, and achievement goals theories. The analysis of theoretical foundations and characteristics of self-handicapping strategies allows then to highlight the central role of self-esteem and presents an original approach to understand the process operated by users. (C) 2014 Societe francaise de psychologie. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.