External Attributions for Success and Avoidance of Failure

This study investigated the attributions of failure-avoidant students in response to success and failure outcomes. Failure-avoidant students are those who strive to avoid the negative implications of failure in terms of damage to self-esteem. These students were identified on the basis of poor performance following failure and improved performance after being given a face-saving excuse. Failure-avoidant students were found to attribute success externally more than several other performance groups identified through the experimental manipulation used to identify failure-avoidant students. This finding points to a factor which may be involved in the development and maintenance of performance-limiting behaviours associated with fear of failure. This factor should be considered in intervention programs which assist these students in realising their potential for achievement.