Self-handicapping vs. self-serving bias
The night before an exam, a student who fears failing stays out late with friends instead of studying. If he does poorly, he can blame lack of sleep rather than lack of ability. This behavior is best described as:
Answer A: explanation for every choice
Correct. He creates an obstacle in advance so a failure can be blamed on the obstacle, protecting his belief in his ability.
Self-serving bias is an attribution made after an outcome: crediting success to yourself and failure to circumstances. Here he arranges the excuse beforehand through his behavior.
Learned helplessness is passivity after repeated uncontrollable failures. His choice is strategic, not passive.
An external locus of control is a general belief that outside forces control outcomes. He is protecting a belief in his own ability, which suggests the opposite.
Reviewed 2026-11-05 by a medical student. Spot an error? Report it with question ID ps7.