Sean McCrea
Sean McCrea appears on this site as researcher, co-author of the 2001 paper on ability judgments in self-handicapping and author of the 2008 paper on self-handicapping, excuse making and counterfactual thinking.
Who they are
The work of Sean McCrea reaches this site through the papers listed below. On this site the name is tied to Self-Handicapping.
Key papers
McCrea, S. M., & Hirt, E. R. (2001). The role of ability judgments in self-handicapping. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 27(10), 1378-1389. What it reports: Students who self-handicapped reported less effort and performed worse, yet kept positive beliefs about their ability in the domain.
McCrea, S. M. (2008). Self-handicapping, excuse making, and counterfactual thinking: Consequences for self-esteem and future motivation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 95(2), 274-292. What it reports: Five studies in which upward counterfactual thoughts in self-handicapping contexts raised self-esteem and lowered motivation for future performance.
Key ideas
Self-Handicapping: Creating or claiming an obstacle before a test so that a poor result can be blamed on it.
Sources
- McCrea, S. M., & Hirt, E. R. (2001). The role of ability judgments in self-handicapping. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 27(10), 1378-1389.
- McCrea, S. M. (2008). Self-handicapping, excuse making, and counterfactual thinking: Consequences for self-esteem and future motivation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 95(2), 274-292.