The effects of cognitive load on strategic self-handicapping

Past research has demonstrated that observers tend to underestimate the imp ortance of situational determinants (e.g. task difficulty) of the performan ces of others. This tendency is particularly pronounced when observers are unmotivated, distracted or otherwise 'cognitively busy' while making attrib utional judgments. The objective of the present research was to determine w hether a similar tendency exists when actors are given the opportunity to c hoose the tasks they will undertake in a self-presentational situation. Six ty-one participants were given a choice between a difficult and a simple ta sk, with cognitive busyness being manipulated while this choice was being m ade. Cognitively busy participants were significantly more likely to choose the simple task than their non-busy counterparts.