Robert has an important exam the next day. However, instead of studying for his exam, Robert is out at a party and drinking until the early morning hours. What social-psychological construct can explain Robert's behavior and why would he do this?
What will be an ideal response?
Answer: Robert's behavior can be explained by the construct known as self-handicapping, wherein individuals create obstacles and excuses so that if they fail, it does not hurt their self-perceptions. Robert would do this so that if he succeeded, he can attribute his success to his ability—but if he failed, he would have an explanation that is external.
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Participants who know that they are being observed may modify their behavior. This problem is known as ____
a. reactivity b. novelty c. experimenter bias d. volunteerism