title: A motivational analysis of defensive pessimism and self-handicapping.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Social Sciences in Psychology, University of Rochester, NY 14627, USA. andye@scp.rochester.edu
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Elliot
authors.forename: Marcy A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Church
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001362:Avoidance Learning; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D012649:Self Concept; D012718:Set, Psychology; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology