Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jn8rn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T04:51:05.199Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A Clinical Investigation of Motivation to Change Standards and Cognitions about Failure in Perfectionism

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 October 2012

Sarah J. Egan ,
Jan P. Piek ,
Murray J. Dyck ,
Clare S. Rees  and
Martin S. Hagger
Sarah J. Egan*
Affiliation:
Curtin University, Perth, Australia
Jan P. Piek
Affiliation:
Curtin University, Perth, Australia
Murray J. Dyck
Affiliation:
Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia
Clare S. Rees
Affiliation:
Curtin University, Perth, Australia
Martin S. Hagger
Affiliation:
Curtin University, Perth, Australia
*
Reprint requests to Sarah Egan, School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia. E-mail: s.egan@curtin.edu.au
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Background: Clinical perfectionism is a transdiagnostic process that has been found to maintain eating disorders, anxiety disorders and depression. Cognitive behavioural models explaining the maintenance of clinical perfectionism emphasize the contribution of dichotomous thinking and resetting standards higher following both success and failure in meeting their goals. There has been a paucity of research examining the predictions of the models and motivation to change perfectionism. Motivation to change is important as individuals with clinical perfectionism often report many perceived benefits of their perfectionism; they are, therefore, likely to be ambivalent regarding changing perfectionism. Aims: The aim was to compare qualitative responses regarding questions about motivation to change standards and cognitions regarding failure to meet a personal standard in two contrasting groups with high and low negative perfectionism. Negative perfectionism refers to concern over not meeting personal standards. Method: A clinical group with a range of axis 1 diagnoses who were elevated on negative perfectionism were compared to a group of athletes who were low on negative perfectionism. Results: Results indicated that the clinical group perceived many negative consequences of their perfectionism. They also, however, reported numerous benefits and the majority stated that they would prefer not to change their perfectionism. The clinical group also reported dichotomous thinking and preferring to either keep standards the same or reset standards higher following failure, whilst the athlete group reported they would keep standards the same or set them lower. Conclusions: The findings support predictions of the cognitive behavioural model of clinical perfectionism.

Keywords

Perfectionismcognitive behavioural modelqualitativecognition
Type
Research Article
Information
Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy , Volume 41 , Issue 5 , October 2013 , pp. 565 - 578
Copyright
Copyright © British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 2012 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Abrahamson, L. Y., Seligman, M. E. P. and Teasdale, J. D. (1978). Learned helplessness in humans: critique and reformulation. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 87, 49–74.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Beck, A. T., Steer, R. A. and Brown, G. K. (1996). Beck Depression Inventory Manual (2nd ed.). San Antonio: Harcourt Brace and Company.Google Scholar
Bieling, P. J., Summerfeldt, L. J., Israeli, A. L. and Antony, M. M. (2004). Perfectionism as an explanatory construct in comorbidity of axis I disorders. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 26, 193–201.Google Scholar
Denzin, N. D. and Lincoln, Y. S. (2000). Handbook of Qualitative Research. Thousand Oaks, Ca: Sage Publications.Google Scholar
Egan, S. J., Piek, J. P., Dyck, M. J. and Rees, C. S. (2007). The role of dichotomous thinking and rigidity in perfectionism. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 45, 1813–1822.Google Scholar
Egan, S. J., Wade, T. D. and Shafran, R. (2011). Perfectionism as a transdiagnostic process: a clinical review. Clinical Psychology Review, 31, 203–212.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
First, M. B., Spitzer, R. L., Gibbon, M., Williams, J. B. W. and Benjamin, L. (1994). Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II Personality Disorders (SCID-II). Version 2.0. New York: Biometrics Research Department, New York State Psychiatric Institute.Google Scholar
First, M. B., Spitzer, R. L., Gibbon, M. and Williams, J. B. W. (1996). Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders – patient edition (SCID-I/P, Version 2.0). New York: Biometrics Research Department, New York State Psychiatric Institute.Google Scholar
Frost, R. O., Marten, P., Lahart, C. and Rosenblate, R. (1990). The dimensions of perfectionism. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 14, 449–468.Google Scholar
Haase, A. M., Prapavessis, H. and Owens, R. G. (1999). Perfectionism and eating attitude in competitive rowers: moderating effects of body mass index, weight classification and gender. Psychology and Health, 14, 643–657.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Haase, A. M., Prapavessis, H. and Owens, R. G. (2002). Perfectionism, social physique anxiety and disordered eating: a comparison of male and female athletes. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 3, 209–222.Google Scholar
Hagger, M. S. and Chatzisarantis, N. L. D. (2011). Never the twain shall meet? Quantitative psychological researchers’ perspectives on qualitative research. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 3, 266–277.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hewitt, P. L. and Flett, G. L. (1991). Perfectionism in the self and social contexts: conceptualization, assessment and association with psychopathology. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 60, 456–470.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lundh, L. G. (2004). Perfectionism and acceptance. Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy, 22, 255–269.Google Scholar
Neumeister, K. L. (2004). Interpreting successes and failures: the influence of perfectionism on perspective. Journal for the Education of the Gifted, 27, 311–335.Google Scholar
Rice, K. G., Bair, C. J., Castro, J. R., Cohen, B. N. and Hood, C. A. (2003). Meanings of perfectionism: a quantitative and qualitative analysis. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy, 17, 39–58.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Riley, C. and Shafran, R. (2005). Clinical perfectionism: a preliminary qualitative analysis. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 33, 369–374.Google Scholar
Shafran, R., Cooper, Z. and Fairburn, C. G. (2002). Clinical perfectionism: a cognitive behavioural analysis. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 40, 773–791.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Shafran, R., Egan, S. and Wade, T. (2010). Overcoming Perfectionism: a self-help guide using cognitive behavioural techniques. London: Constable and Robinson.Google Scholar
Stoeber, J. and Otto, K. (2006). Positive conceptions of perfectionism: approaches, evidence, challenges. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 10, 295–319.Google Scholar
Terry-Short, L. A., Owens, R. G., Slade, P. D. and Dewey, M. E. (1995). Positive and negative perfectionism. Personality and Individual Differences, 18, 663–668.Google Scholar
Wilson, G. T. and Schlam, T. R. (2004). The transtheoretical model and motivational interviewing in the treatment of eating and weight disorders. Clinical Psychology Review, 24, 361–378.Google Scholar
Zanarini, M. C., Skodol, A. E., Bender, D., Dolan, R., Sanislow, C., Schaeffer, E., et al. (2000). The collaborative longitudinal personality disorders study: reliability of Axis I and II diagnoses. Journal of Personality Disorders, 14, 291–299.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Submit a response

Comments

No Comments have been published for this article.