This book summarizes a series of research projects
investigating the effects of self-handicapping on an
individual's daily life by looking at participants'
peer relationship and social interactions, reactions
of peers to self-handicapping behaviors, and
self-presentation strategies. Self-handicapping, when
disclosed to peers, was predicted by previous
research to negatively affect social networks. The
series of studies presented in this book illustrates
that the effect of self-handicapping on peer
relationships is not nearly as straightforward as
previous research might suggest and not universally
negative. Self-handicappers were found, in
comparison to low self-handicappers to have more
friends with whom less close relationships were
maintained. Self-handicappers were also found to
spend, compared with low self-handicappers, a greater
amount of time engaged in social activities with
others(particularly with males). Finally,
self-handicapping as a behavior was displayed very
differently depending upon the presence and gender of
others and this change in display impacted the
perception others formed regarding the behavior.