L19 - Perfectionism Flashcards
What is the definition of perfectionism?(Frost et al, 1990)
“The disposition to regard anything short of perfection as unacceptable -> considered a multidimensional personality disposition
What are some characteristics of perfection ( Frost et al, 1990)
- showing for flawlessness
- setting excessively high standards for performance
- tendencies for overly critical evaluations of ones behaviour
- over-sensitivity to mistakes
Consequences of perfectionism (Fleet and Hewitt, 2002; Hall et al, 2012)
- negative affect, anger, anxiety, depression, dysfunctional eating/exercise behaviours , suicide ideation, burnout, fatigue, low self esteem, less life satisfaction
Discuss the personal and interpersonal qualities of perfectionism?
Personal qualities - personal standards, organisation, concern over mistakes, doubts over actions
Interpersonal qualities - parental expectation, parental criticism
What did Gould et al (2002) to be the most important factor in perfectionism?
Personal standards scored highest
Concern over mistakes was found to be the defining feature of perfectionism
Parental expectations were higher than parental criticism
What did Gotwalls et al (2002) find concern over mistakes led to?
- increased burnout, ego orientation, competitive anxiety
- decreased task orientation, confidence, self esteem, performance satisfaction
What is self-orientated perfectionism ?
Excessive striving and demanding absolute perfection from the self
What is other orientated perfectionism?
Demanding perfection from other people
What is socially prescribed perfectionism?
The perception that other people demand perfection from oneself
What did Hill et al (2008) find?
Used the MPS and found self orientated perfectionism to be higher than socially prescribed perfectionism. Self orientated considered vulnerable and socially prescribed considered debilitating
Discuss the combining conceptualisation of perfectionism? (Frost et al, 1993)
- maladaptive evaluative concerns:- concern about mistakes, parental criticism, parental expectations, doubts about actions, socially prescribed perfectionism (sig pos BDI, neg aff)
- positive striving:- personal standards, organisation, self orientated perfectionism, other orientated perfectionism (sig pos aff)
Describe maladaptive evaluative concerns (Enns and Cox, 2002)
- unable to experience pleasure from efforts, inflexibly high unreasonable standards, fear of failure, focus on avoiding error, tense anxious harsh self criticism
Describe positive striving from Enns and Cox study (2002)
- able to experience satisfaction/ pleasure
- flexibly high achievable standards
- starving for success
- relaxed but careful attitude
- renew effort following failure
Discuss the 2X2 model of dispositional perfectionism (Gaudreau and Thompson, 2010)
See image.
Two main parameters are : evaluative concerns perfectionism (X) and personal standards perfectionism (Y)
LL - non perfectionism
LH - pure evaluative concerns perfectionism
HL - pure personal standards perfectionism (positive striving)
HH - mixed profile of perfectionism (maladaptive evaluative concerns)
What did Cummings and Duda (2012) find when comparing positive striving to mixed perfectionism?
Dancers with mixed perfectionism reported :-
- increased social physique anxiety, negative affect, physical symptoms and increased emotional and physical exhaustion
Perfectionistic tendencies undermine well being and adaptive motivational processes in dancers
