Preemptive effort downplaying : effects on self-evaluation, self-esteem and ability attribution.

Abstract

Preemptive Effort Downplaying (PED) is a self-handicapping strategy practiced when one publicly downplay their effort on test preparations preceding the test itself, in an attempt to manage social evaluation of the self in the face of a challenging task. In the present study, 58 participants were given two opportunities to publicly report their effort expenditure on a practice exercise. They also completed a self-evaluation, self-esteem, self-regulation and study strategies scale before working on the practice exercise; and again the self-evaluation and self-esteem scale, plus an ability attribution scale at the completion of the actual test. Only 17 participants practiced PED. In addition, no significant results were found that link PED to self-evaluation, self-esteem or ability attribution. The implications of these results are discussed.