Gender differences in the strategic the [sic] use of self- reported handicaps

The hypothesis that self-handicapping is used differentially by men and women was examined in a naturalistic setting. It was expected that the importance of an exam would be a better predictor of self-handicapping for men, whereas stress was predicted to be a better indicator of self-handicapping for women. College students were assessed the class period prior to a mid-term exam. Participants completed a packet of questionnaires that assessed level of stress, self-handicapping tendencies, anticipated handicaps, perceived importance of the exam, the consequences of their performance (i.e. success or failure), and expected performance. The results did not support the hypotheses. However, there is some evidence that the process of self-handicapping is different for men and women. Discussion focuses on explanations for the lack of hypothesized gender interactions, the self-protective utility of self-handicapping and construct validity of the Self-Handicapping Scale (SHS).