User:SiobhanSmith

My name is Siobhan Smith. I am a third year Psychology student studying at University of Southampton and have joined Wikipedia primarily to partake in an assignment for my 'self and identity' unit run by  Aiden Gregg, an  academic psychologist with a Ph.D from Yale University. My assignment is to create and improve articles on the psychology of self and  identity alongside other students from the   Self and Identity Task Force and with the supervision of  Aiden.

This academic term I am also studying units on Oncology and Forensic Psychology  (which is a particular interest of mine) as well as beginning my dissertation.

Alongside my studies, I have worked for four and a half years as a support working with people who have Learning disabilities including Autism, which I have really enjoyed but I am now keen to branch into mental health or prison service support work. I am currently being assessed to join the Hampshire Special Constabulary team and feel this is something I will learn a lot from.

My WikiProject
For my Wikiproject I'm going to be re-writing and improving the Self-Handicapping page. Initially I am going to put all my work on my user page and then once I have made final edits, I will add my changes to the Self-Handicapping Wiki page for all to scrutinize.

Current Article
'''Below is the current self-handicapping article. I have decided that the article can mostly be discarded and a stronger article written based on literature and with better referencing and links to guide onto other related articles. '''

Self-handicapping is defined as "any action or choice of performance setting that enhances the opportunities to externalize failure and to internalize success." It was first theorized by Edward E. Jones and Steven Berglas.

According to research, people will seek out obstacles to their own success that minimizes their own performance as a cause for failure. In one study, subjects were given positive feedback on problem-solving tests, regardless of the subject's actual performance. Half the subjects had been given fairly easy problems, while the others were given difficult problems. Subjects were then given the choice between a "performance-enhancing drug" and one which would inhibit it. Those subjects who received the difficult problems were more likely to choose the impairing drug, and subjects who faced easy problems were more likely to choose the enhancing drug. It is argued that the subjects presented with hard problems, believing that their success had been due to chance, chose the impairing drug because they were looking for an external attribution (what might be called an "excuse") for expected poor performance in the future, as opposed to an internal attribution.

Self-handicapping may be the cause of paradoxically limiting one's own ability to succeed and deliberately impairing oneself purely to avoid risk, maintain control and protect the ego and self-esteem.

When awareness of failure was induced, experimental subjects have unduly:
 * Reduced their preparation for an athletic event
 * Studied less for an exam
 * Involved less effort
 * Given their opponent an advantage
 * Lowered expectations

Self-handicapping is more likely to occur when the task is "ego-involving" and failure is anticipated. Some studies suggest that women may be less disposed to and less tolerant of self-handicapping than men (Hirt, McCrea, & Boris, 2003).

Thomas Gilovich makes a distinction between "real" self-handicapping, where people actually obstruct their own success, and "feigned" self-handicapping where they merely draw attention to potential obstacles. People may self-handicap to manage the impressions of others, or of themselves (though studies have been unable to test the latter).

Timeline

 * Home cleaned, clothes washed and finances examined. It's now time to stop procrastinating and commence the task. --SiobhanSmith (talk) 13:01, 25 November 2009 (UTC)


 * Notes all gathered and self-handicapping article written up in word, it's time to brave it onto my user page. Having confusion about what sub articles etc to develop or edit. One thing at a time I guess! --SiobhanSmith (talk) 14:42, 27 November 2009 (UTC)


 * I'm feeling a little wiki-fied out right now...I hadn't realised how long it would take getting to grips with formatting and editing. My handicap for now is that I haven't been very well. My efforts are probably adequate for a draft. Oh wikipedia, I liked it best when we had a one way relationship-I took from you and put nothing back! --SiobhanSmith (talk) 22:01, 17 December 2009 (UTC)


 * I’ve had a discussion with Aiden and he feels my article is an improvement to the existing one. Now I am going to check my grammer and phrasing, edit my references so as they aren’t duplicated and add a section on recent studies as was suggested. --SiobhanSmith (talk) 21:52, 9 January 2010 (UTC)


 * Referencing has again amazed me by how long it has taken (Argh!) but there are now no duplicates and I have added a few more. I have added a section on gender differences and I have added another paragraph to explain the difference between behavioural and claimed self-handicaps. I am now researching into age/race differences and then I am going to add a few recent studies I have looked at. --SiobhanSmith (talk) 00:23, 10 January 2010 (UTC)


 * I wanted to add a section on cultural/age differences in self-handicapping in the 'individual difference' section, but I am struggling to find much evidence. I'm going to look at self-handicapping in sports and in acedemic performance for recent studies. I have also some examples of behavioural/claimed handicaps supported by journals that I read last night. --SiobhanSmith (talk) 16:35, 11 January 2010 (UTC)


 * I just found PyshcWiki, I had forgotten about this! The article is a little stronger than on normal Wiki but it's still not great. Nevertheless, I have included it in my external links. I read a recent article from the New York Times which interviewed some psychologists interested in self-handicapping. It makes easy reading for the average person learning about self-handicapping so I have included it too -- SiobhanSmith (talk) 19:34, 11 January 2010 (UTC)


 * I think I'm just about finished with my article now. I have enjoyed researching self-handicapping and feel I have provided good references for those interested in reading more but provided a general outline for those who just wish to understand what self-handicapping is and its implications. Aiden suggested swapping having individual differences after funtionality which I have done and agree makes more logical sense. --SiobhanSmith (talk) 15:25, 13 January 2010 (UTC)


 * Hey Aiden. Just to say I have a sub page User:SiobhanSmith/Self-handicapping which is going to be used by other users to edit my article before I put it on the real page (see my discussion)-No point letting my work go to waste. I have done this so as you can see what has been edited after the deadline so you can ignore it in terms of marking. Enjoy :P SiobhanSmith (talk) 00:15, 16 January 2010 (UTC)

My Wiki-write up
Below is my Wiki-write up. As you can see, it bares very little similarity to the existing article as I noted inaccuracies and poor referencing in the current article. I have read the few references from the previous article (above) and I used some of them to write my article, as well as many other journals that I read and felt were relevant.

Self-Handicapping
'Self-handicapping' is described as an action or choice which prevents a person from being responsible for failure. According to Jones and Berglas self-handicaps are obstacles created, or claimed, by the individual in anticipation of failing performance. Self-handicapping behaviour allows individuals to externalise failures but internalise success; accepting credit for achievements, but allowing excuses for failings. Self-handicapping can be seen as a method of preserving self-Esteem but it can also be used for self-enhancement.

Example: An example of an individual self-handicapping is the student with an impending important exam who spends the night before at an all-night party rather than studying. The student fears failing their exam and appearing incapable. In partying the night before their exam the student has engaged in self-defeating behaviour and increased the likelihood of poor exam performance. However, in the event of failure, the student can offer fatigue and a hangover, rather than lack of ability, as plausible explanations. Furthermore, should the student receive positive feedback about their exam, their achievement is enhanced by the fact that they succeeded, despite the handicap.

Researchers on self-handicapping have distinguished between claimed self-handicaps, in which the individual merely states that an obstacle to performance exists, and behavioral handicaps, in which the individual actually creates obstacles to performance. Examples of behavioural handicaps include alcohol consumption the selection of unattainable goals or lack of practice. Examples of claimed self-handicaps include declarations that one is very anxious or experiencing various physical and psychological symptoms

Functionality of Self-Handicapping
Previous research has established that self-handicapping is motivated by uncertainty about one's ability or, more generally, anticipated threats to self-esteem. Self-handicapping can be exacerbated by self-presentational concerns but also occurs in situations where such concerns are at a minimum.

Research has found the generally people are willing to use handicaps in order to protect their self-esteem (e.g. discounting failings) but are more reluctant to employ them for self-enhancement. (e.g. to further credit their success).

For example, Rhodewalt, Morf, Hazlett, and Fairfield (1991) selected participants who scored high or low on the Self-Handicapping Scale (SHS) and who had high or low self-esteem. They presented participants with a handicap and then with success of failure feedback and asked participants to make attributions for their performance. The results showed that both self-protection and self-enhancement occurred, but only as a function of levels of self-esteem and the level of tendency to self-handicap. Participants who were high self-handicappers, regardless of their level of self-esteem, used the handicap as a means of self-protection but only those participants with high self-esteem used the handicap to self-enhance. In a further study, Rhodewalt (1991) presented the handicap to only half of the participants and gave success and failure feedback. The results provided evidence for self-protection but not for self-enhancement. Participants in the failure feedback, handicap absent group, attributed their failures to their own lack of ability and reported lower self-esteem to the handicap-present, failure-feedback condition. Furthermore, the handicap-present failure group reported levels of self-esteem equal to that of the successful group. This evidence highlights the importance of self-handicaps in self-protectively although it offers no support for the handicap acting to self-enhance.

Individual Differences
People differ in the extent to which they self-handicap Although a number of characteristics have been related to self-handicapping (e.g. hypochondriasis) most research on individual differences has used the Self-Handicapping Scale (SHS). The SHS was developed as a means of measuring individuals tendency to employ excuses or create handicaps as a means to protects ones self esteem and research to date shows that SHS has adequate construct validity For example, individuals who score high on the SHS will put in less effort and practice less when concerned about their ability to perform well in a given task. They are also more likely that those rated low self-handicappers (LSH) to mention obstacles or external factors which may hinder their success, prior to performing.

Gender differences
Gender differences are one of the most consistent findings in self-handicapping literature. Research has repeatedly found that men appear to self-handicap to a greater degree than do women, yet the reason for this difference remains unknown. While many studies have found that claimed  self-handicaps are used by men and women alike,  the vast majority of research has found than generally only men behaviourally self-handicap.

Mood and Self-handicapping
Previous research has looked at the consequences of self-handicapping and have suggested that self-handicapping leads to a more positive mood (at least in the short term). However, based on past evidence that positive mood motivates self-protective attributions for success and failure and increases the avoidance of negative feedback ,recent research has focused on mood as an antecedent to self-handicapping; expecting positive mood to increase self-handicapping behaviour. Results have shown that people who are in positive mood are more likely to engage in self-handicapping, even at the cost of jeopardizing future performance.

Self-handicapping in Sports
Previous research, has suggested that because in Physical Education (PE) students are required to overtly display their physical abilities and incompetence could be readily observed by others, PE is an ideal setting to observe self-handicapping. Because of its prevelence in the sporting world, self-handicapping behavioiur has become of interest to sports psychologists who are interested in increasing sports performance. Recent research has examined the relationship between behavioural and claimed self-handicaps and atheletic performance as well as the effects self-handicapping has on anxiety and fear of failure before Athletic Performance.

Longitudinal studies
Longitudinal studies of self-handicapping have shown that while self-handicapping may protect self-esteem in the short term, it could have long-term costs for the individual. Self-handicapping has been found to lead to lower intrinsic motivation, worse health and wellbeing, more frequent negative moods and higher use of various substances.