I know when I have little self-motivation then I try to get away with whatever I can get away with :-) It's not necessarily self-esteem but more "this works okay and is easier." I don't think it's deliberate on the woman's part but her husband is letting her get away with it, isn't confronting her and refusing to carry the whole/more than his share of the load. An excuse is just an excuse and I don't know any of them that hold much water :-)