Sandbagging and the Self

Abstract. Sandbagging – a self-presentation strategy defined by feigned performance or false claims of inability – has been associated with lower self-esteem. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether narcissism explains the relationship between sandbagging and self-esteem. College students ( N = 813) completed a survey. Grandiose and vulnerable narcissism explained variance in sandbagging beyond what was explained by self-esteem. When grandiose or vulnerable narcissism was included, the relationship between self-esteem and sandbagging was no longer significant. Overall, the results were consistent with the notion that the relationship between lower self-esteem and sandbagging may be subsumed by narcissism.