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psychology
You sabotage yourself to protect your ego.
A 1978 study found that participants chose to consume performance-inhibiting drugs when they were anxious about an upcoming test.
By creating obstacles for yourself, you ensure an external excuse for potential failure. If you succeed, you are a genius; if you fail, you have a ready-made reason that isn't your own ability.
You prefer failure to the threat of incompetence.
Where this comes from
- Study
- Berglas and Jones, 1978
- What the check found
- The study is correctly attributed. The claim simplifies the motivation from 'fear of failing to repeat success' to 'anxiety about an upcoming test', which is a common and minor distillation.
- Confidence
- Well replicated
Related
One of these every day, and every one names the study it came from. When a finding is contested, it says so.