Motivational climate and self-handicapping in elite junior golf

Masteroppgave - Norges idrettshøgskole, 2011The main objective in this study was to investigate if self-reported handicaps and behavioral self-handicapping are influenced by perceptions of the motivational climate. Our secondary objective was to investigate if self-handicapping strategies (self-reported and behavioral handicaps) are influenced by performance. We observed 22 (9 female and 13 male) elite junior golfers (mean hcp. = 4.18) in a golf putting task. Participants completed a putting exercise twice, the first time doing it as a competition, and subsequently doing it as a putting exercise to improve putting skills. Behavioral self-handicapping (measured by four specific behavioral cues for golf putting) was analyzed through video footage of the two conditions. Subsequent to completing both conditions, participants were given the opportunity to self-report handicaps. Results revealed that self-handicapping was not influenced by perceptions of the motivational climate. However, a negative relationship between putting performance and self- handicapping was found. Further, the standard multiple analysis revealed that performance was a significant (negative) predictor for self-reported handicaps, and also for one of the four behavioral self-handicapping cues. The findings suggest that reporting handicaps after a poor performance is a self-handicapping strategy to enhance our private self-esteem and self-image. Keywords: Motivational climates, elite junior golfers, self-handicappin