Mike desperately wants to do well on the SAT Reasoning Test, as his scores on this test will affect his chances of getting into his first-choice college.He also knows that many students at his school think SAT scores are good indicators of how "smart" one is.Yet the night before the test, rather than get a good night's sleep, Mike goes out with his friends, has a few beers, comes home late, and wakes up with a hangover.With this information in mind, we might suspect that Mike:
A)Is working hard to counteract the effects of stereotype threat
B)Has facilitating anxiety about the test
C)Is the victim of situated motivation
D)Is engaging in self-handicapping

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Mike's behavior of intentionally impairing his physical and mental abilities the night before the test can be seen as a form of self-handicapping. He is creating an excuse for himself, in case he doesn't do well on the test, by blaming it on the hangover rather than his actual abilities. This behavior is often seen in individuals who fear failure or have low self-esteem.

Mike Desperately Wants to Do Well on the SAT Reasoning