"This is a behavior in which people create obstacles to their own success so that if they fail, they can blame external factors instead of internal ability. A prime example comes from classic research where researchers observed students who procrastinated studying for an important test. The ones who failed mostly attributed it to a lack of preparation rather than a lack of organization or discipline."
"Most of us, at some point in our lives, have stood in the way of our own growth. We make progress on a project, start to feel hopeful about a relationship, or finally get on track with a goal, and then we do something that undermines it. We fall into a procrastination spiral, pick a fight, or simply quit; in doing so, we talk ourselves out of something that could potentially bring us happiness. There's a name for this kind of behavior: self-sabotage."
Self-sabotage occurs when people undermine their own progress through behaviors such as procrastination, picking fights, or quitting, preventing potential happiness. Psychological mechanisms include self-handicapping, where individuals create obstacles so failure can be blamed on external factors rather than internal ability, protecting self-worth. Classic studies found procrastinating students who failed attributed outcomes to lack of preparation, while success felt greater when achieved despite handicaps. Self-handicapping is a deliberate, not merely lazy, strategy. Remaining within familiar comfort zones and misaligned self-concept also prompt avoidance. Aligning goals with realistic self-concepts reduces internal conflict and decreases self-sabotaging behaviors.
Read at Psychology Today
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