ABSTRACT

This chapter presents the link between dimensions of perfectionism and attributional tendencies for negative and positive outcomes. The association between perfectionism and maladjustment reflects, in part, the fact that perfectionists tend to experience a great deal of punishment in the form of failure or stressful experiences. For instance, self-oriented perfectionists tend to have high self-standards and motivation to attain perfection. Given that perfectionists are highly attuned to evaluate feedback and react strongly to outcomes, it is important to examine the manner in which perfectionists interpret their failures and successes. Presumably, perfectionists who attain perfection would attribute these successes to some aspects of themselves. Socially prescribed perfectionists are exposed to a great deal of punishment due to their inability to meet the perceived perfectionistic demands imposed on themselves by others. One particularly important consequence for perfectionists is the growing realization that one has failed despite expending maximum effort.