Abstract
The present studies were conducted to examine the effects of the controllability and stability of self-handicapping and the style of self-handicapping on observers' impressions. Subjects were requested to read a description of a person (self-handicapper) who acquired or claimed a handicap before a test. The results showed that (a) contorollable and unstable handicaps augmented the perception of responsibility and reduced observer's intention of helping behavior, (b) uncontorollable and stable handicaps reduced the perception of self-handicapper's confidence and success-probability, and (c) claimed self-handicapping was perceived more negatively than acquired self-handicapping. These results suggested the negative effects of self-handicapping on self-handicappers in both a short term and a long term.
