L19 - Perfectionism

Question 1

What is the definition of perfectionism?(Frost et al, 1990)

Answer 1

“The disposition to regard anything short of perfection as unacceptable -> considered a multidimensional personality disposition

Question 2

What are some characteristics of perfection ( Frost et al, 1990)

Answer 2

• showing for flawlessness
• setting excessively high standards for performance
• tendencies for overly critical evaluations of ones behaviour
• over-sensitivity to mistakes

Question 3

Consequences of perfectionism (Fleet and Hewitt, 2002; Hall et al, 2012)

Answer 3

• negative affect, anger, anxiety, depression, dysfunctional eating/exercise behaviours , suicide ideation, burnout, fatigue, low self esteem, less life satisfaction

Question 4

Discuss the personal and interpersonal qualities of perfectionism?

Answer 4

Personal qualities - personal standards, organisation, concern over mistakes, doubts over actions

Interpersonal qualities - parental expectation, parental criticism

Question 5

What did Gould et al (2002) to be the most important factor in perfectionism?

Answer 5

Personal standards scored highest
Concern over mistakes was found to be the defining feature of perfectionism
Parental expectations were higher than parental criticism

Question 6

What did Gotwalls et al (2002) find concern over mistakes led to?

Answer 6

• increased burnout, ego orientation, competitive anxiety

- decreased task orientation, confidence, self esteem, performance satisfaction

Question 7

What is self-orientated perfectionism ?

Answer 7

Excessive striving and demanding absolute perfection from the self

Question 8

What is other orientated perfectionism?

Answer 8

Demanding perfection from other people

Question 9

What is socially prescribed perfectionism?

Answer 9

The perception that other people demand perfection from oneself

Question 10

What did Hill et al (2008) find?

Answer 10

Used the MPS and found self orientated perfectionism to be higher than socially prescribed perfectionism. Self orientated considered vulnerable and socially prescribed considered debilitating

Question 11

Discuss the combining conceptualisation of perfectionism? (Frost et al, 1993)

Answer 11

• 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)

Question 12

Describe maladaptive evaluative concerns (Enns and Cox, 2002)

Answer 12

• unable to experience pleasure from efforts, inflexibly high unreasonable standards, fear of failure, focus on avoiding error, tense anxious harsh self criticism

Question 13

Describe positive striving from Enns and Cox study (2002)

Answer 13

• able to experience satisfaction/ pleasure
• flexibly high achievable standards
• starving for success
• relaxed but careful attitude
• renew effort following failure

Question 14

Discuss the 2X2 model of dispositional perfectionism (Gaudreau and Thompson, 2010)

See image.

Answer 14

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)

Question 15

What did Cummings and Duda (2012) find when comparing positive striving to mixed perfectionism?

Answer 15

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

Question 16

What did Anshel and Mansouri (2005) find when looking at the effects of perfectionism on performance?

Answer 16

Showed that perfectionism = decreased performance under false negative feedback condition only

Question 17

How can perfectionistic tendencies be managed?

Answer 17

• strategies to cope with mistakes/stress
• effective goal setting, imagery and self talk
• promote task orientation / mastery climate