自我設限( Self - handicap )是指個人在面臨可能威脅自尊的情境時，為了避免失敗損及自尊，而故意造成障礙或陷自己於不利情境的行為。根據研究發現：以往有關自我設限的研究大都集中在影響自我設限發生的相關情境變項或個人變項上，但對於二者之間的統整性研究較為缺乏。其次，自我設限的重要意義在於個人對其行為的解釋，而對於自我設限與行為歸因之關係也仍缺乏實徵研究。

本研究旨在探討自我設限的行為傾向與有無自我設限線索的情境變項對自我設限行為的影響，以及自我設限的行為傾向、情境、回饋變項對事後歸因的影響。研究受試來自台北市成功及景美高中共160人。研究工具包括研究者設計的假智力測驗、修訂完成之自我設限量表以及測量歸因情形之歸因量表等。有關自我設限行為的部分為2 (傾向變項) x 2 (情境變項)獨立設計，其中傾向變項係以自我設限量表事先篩選，情境變項係由實驗者操弄指導語所形成。測量的依變項為受試作練習題的時間。接著在有關歸因情形的研究中，研究者在受試作完測驗之後，再繼續操弄不同的回饋，形成2 (傾向變項) x 2 (情境變項) x 2 (回饋變項)獨立設計。依變項的測量為受試在歸因量表上的分數。

研究結果發現：在「練習會影響成績」(有自我設限線索)情境之下，高傾向的受試最容易以不足的練習時間作為自我設限的策略。在事後也傾向於以練習時間的不足作為主要的歸因因素，尤其是在獲致失敗回饋時為然。這是一種自我保護的歸因現象。可是如果受試獲得成功的回饋，則以「平時的努力」、「真實的智力」作為自我擴充的歸因因素。

當受試獲知練習和成績無關時，受試不會以「練習不夠」作為自我設限的策略。受試並且轉向「情緒或心情」、「難易度」、「運氣」等不可控制的或外在的歸因。另外具有高度自我設限傾向的後試傾向於把行為歸因於不穩定的因素(如情緒、運氣) ；他們在有自我設限線索的情境中獲致失敗回饋時，則會把失敗結果歸因於其自我設限(練習不足)。相對的，低傾向者則傾向於把行為歸因於較穩定而內在的因素。最後，研究結果也顯示有自利偏差的現象，亦即獲得成功回饋者作較多的真實的智力、平時的努力等內在歸因；而獲失敗回饋者則作較多的練習因素、以及難易度、運氣等外在歸因。

本研究結果釐清了自我設限對行為歸因的影響，對於自我設限的兩種動機一一自我保護與自我擴充也提供了實徵上的支持。

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