In a series of journal articles and books, Baumeister inquired about the reasons for self-defeating behavior.

The researchers then cured that self-defeating behavior by having them keep track of past pricing trends.

"Especially in a period of high demand for teachers, school districts should beware of such self-defeating behavior."

Many of his psychiatric treatment techniques involve helping people confront what he calls their self-created fears and change self-defeating behavior.

What looks like self-defeating behavior or even masochism is fueled by a deep desire to hurt someone close.

Even with the best intentions, strategies aimed at exposing self-defeating behaviors will often be resented.

She starts out punishing the world and herself for all the things about man which she despises, through self-defeating behavior.

A) A pervasive pattern of self-defeating behavior, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts.

In this sense a gremlin is one's self-defeating behavior.

Psychologists consider this an analogue to compulsive, self-defeating behavior because there is no payoff or reward.