Perfectionism and domain contingencies of self-worth.
Author
Goh, Karen Sok Hui.
Date of Issue
2012School
School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Abstract
The present study explored how Maladaptive Evaluative Concerns (MEC) perfectionism and Positive Achievement Strivings (PAS) perfectionism may be related to contingent self-worth in different life domains. We also examined how contingent self-worth may moderate the effect of MEC perfectionism and PAS perfectionism on participants’ response to negative performance feedback. Participants completed questionnaires assessing their levels of perfectionism and contingent self-worth in the external domains of appearance, academic competence, competition, others’ approval, family support, and the internal domains of God’s love and virtue. Participants’ levels of state self-esteem, positive affect and negative affect were assessed pre- and post-performance feedback. Results showed that PAS perfectionism exhibited a stronger relation than MEC perfectionism to overall contingent self-worth. PAS perfectionism was also related to contingent self-worth in both external and internal domains, while MEC perfectionism was related to contingent self-worth only in external domains. Analyses of pre- and post state self-esteem and affect revealed that contingent self-worth moderated the effect of PAS perfectionism on participants’ decrease in state-self esteem and positive affect, but did not do so for MEC perfectionism. Our findings suggest that PAS perfectionism may be a vulnerability factor for distress through contingent self-worth. Other theoretical and practical implications as well as directions for future research are discussed.
Subject
DRNTU::Social sciences::Psychology::Affection and emotion
DRNTU::Social sciences::Psychology::Applied psychology
DRNTU::Social sciences::Psychology
DRNTU::Social sciences::Psychology::Applied psychology
DRNTU::Social sciences::Psychology
Type
Final Year Project (FYP)
Rights
Nanyang Technological University
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