Public self-focus and sex differences in behavioral self-handicapping: Does increasing self-threat still make it "just a man's game?"

The present study examined the effects of public self-focus and participant s' sex on self-handicapping behavior. Research in the area of self-handicap ping has consistently shown that men alone tend to self-handicap behavioral ly. Because conditions of public self-focus tend to make the evaluative imp lications of performance more salient, the authors hypothesized that people would self-handicap more when they are self-focused (as opposed to other-f ocused). Ma and women were presented with an important intellectual evaluat ion and were allowed to practice for thew upcoming test as much as they wan ted. Results showed that men self-handicap more when they are self-focused but women do not behaviorally self-handicap under self- or other-focused co nditions. Heightened concern over possible failure in self-focused conditio ns appeared to be the critical mediator in encouraging self-handicapping be havior among men.