The effects of local polarization and absorption potentials on differential cross sections and angular correlation parameters are studied within the distorted-wave approximation for electron excitation of the 2 1P state of helium. For examining the effect of local polarization, we have compared a recent numerical self-consistent adiabatic polarization potential for helium with the commonly used hydrogenic adiabatic polarization potential. Different radial regions for the polarization potential were studied to determine their contribution to the overall effect of polarization. Calculations are also presented which show the effects of different strengths for a local absorption potential
