Dysfunctional attitudes, perfectionism, and models of vulnerability to depression.

Abstract

The past 30 years have seen a fundamental shift in how psychopathology is understood, from a reliance on symptom-based psychiatric definitions to a greater emphasis on the phenomenology and basic mental operations underlying various forms of emotional disturbance. Much of the change in theory and therapy was set in motion by the original cognitive formulation of depression (Beck, 1967), an approach that over time has been extended to virtually the entire range of clinical problems. Specific domains within this general movement toward a greater phenomenological understanding of psychopathology have attracted considerable research interest and have developed into discrete domains of inquiry. Such is the case with the study of perfectionism, which is amply documented in the current volume.The aim of this chapter is to examine the advances made in the study of perfectionism against the background of the cognitive model and to consider whether some of the ideas emphasized in the model can shed additional light on the issues discussed in this book. In contrast to much of the material in this book, the cognitive model developed almost wholly out of clinical observation and owes relatively less t o the trait psychology and personality theory traditions. Furthermore, although global constructs like perfectionism, hopelessness, low self-esteem, and so on, are important components of the cognitive view of psychopathology, they typically are understood in reference to the basic mental operations they entail and the manner in which those operations are carried out.With respect to the emphasis on basic mental operations, a recurring observation in cognitive formulations of various emotional difficulties is that people undergoing such problems-and, often, those at risk-are likely to reason, problem solve, and interpret certain experiences in a rigid and arbitrary way. This mode of thinking manifests its4f through several avenues, and perfectionism is just one of them, albeit an important one. Furthermore, as an outgrowth of the emphasis on basic processes, the cognitive model has evolved in continual contact with developments in applied and basic psychology (see,

Validity of DAS perfectionism and need for approval in relation to the five-factor model of personality

“…Table 1 Zero-order and semipartial correlations of perfectionism, need for approval, pure perfectionism, and pure need for approval with the NEO-PI-R five-factor summary scores DAS Perfectionism in Relation to the NEO-PI-R. Contrary to the prevailing assumption that DAS perfectionism primarily refers to high personal standards and motivation to attain Table 2 Zero-order and semipartial correlations of perfectionism, need for approval, pure perfectionism, and pure need for approval with the neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness facets perfection (e.g., Brown & Beck, 2002), the present study adds to recent studies indicating that DAS perfectionism actually more closely resembles the primarily maladaptive, self-critical aspects of the perfectionism construct (Shahar & Priel, 2003;Sherry et al, 2003). DAS perfectionism was not significantly positively related to the conscientiousness domain and facets in contrast to selforiented perfectionism, which has been primarily positively related to the conscientiousness domain and facets, especially achievement striving (Hill et al, 1997).…”

“…In relation to the NEO-PI-R, sociotropy has been strongly related to neuroticism, especially the self-consciousness facet, along with the agreeableness facets of compliance, modesty, and tender-mindedness, and negatively related to the assertiveness facet of extraversion (Bagby et al, 2001;Dunkley et al, 1997). However, it is noteworthy that the DAS perfectionism and need for approval scales are substantially correlated which indicates to some degree a lack of specificity between them (e.g., Blaney & Kutcher, 1991;Blatt et al, 1995) that might limit the degree of correspondence between DAS need for approval and sociotropy/ dependency in relation to the NEO-PI-R. Brown and Beck (2002) suggested that DAS need for approval reflects an interpersonal sort of perfectionism because the need for approval items (e.g., ''If others dislike you, you cannot be happy'') reflect a rigid, inflexible, and absolute thinking style similar to the perfectionism factor items (e.g., ''If I fail at my work, then I am a failure as a person'').…”

“…Specifically, Brown and Beck (2002) asserted that there is a clear parallel between DAS perfectionism and Hewitt and FlettÕs (1991) concept of self-oriented perfectionism (i.e., the setting of high personal standards for oneself), whereas Blatt et al (1995) assumed a link between DAS perfectionism and self-criticism. Self-oriented perfectionism and self-criticism have been demonstrated to reflect two different dimensions of perfectionism (Dunkley & Blankstein, 2000;Dunkley, Zuroff, & Blankstein, 2003).…”

Perfectionism and depressive symptoms 3 years later: negative social interactions, avoidant coping, and perceived social support as mediators

“…Contrary to the prevailing assumption that DAS perfectionism primarily refers to high PS and motivation to attain perfection [9], DAS perfectionism recently has b een demonstrated to more closely reflect SC perfectionism than PS perfect ionism [10,11]. In relation to the 5-factor model of person ality [12], DAS perfect ionism and other SC perfectionism measures have been related to neuroticism, introversion, and antagonism, whereas PS perfectionism measures are most closely associated with conscientiousness [13][14][15].…”

Perfekcionizam - pozitivna ili negativna osobina? relacije sa subjektivnim blagostanjem, optimizmom i pesimizmom

“…Do sada su u istraživanjima kao medijatori odnosa perfekcionizma i subjektivnog blagostanja (u celini, kao i u odnosu na njegove pojedinačne komponente) sagledavane varijable poput načina na koji osoba opaža i doživljava stres (Chang, 2000;Chang, 2006;Rice, Vergara, & Aldea, 2006), kao i načina na koji pokušava da ga prevlada (Wei, Heppner, Russel, & Young, 2006), dok je uloga kognitivnih činioca kao potencijalnih medijatora ovog odnosa slabije razmatrana (Chang, 2000). U studijama koje su se bavile ispitivanjem veza kognitivnih karakteristika sa pozitivnim i negativnim formama perfekcionizma, te sa pozitivnim i negativnim psihološkim ishodima, kognitivne karakteristike su uglavnom sagledavane specifično i usko, najčešće u vidu kognitivnih distorzija i stereotipnog načina razmišljanja (Bergman et al, 2007;Brown & Beck, 2002;Burns & Fedewa, 2005). Malo je istraživanja u kojima je ispitivan odnos pozitivnog i negativnog perfekcionizma sa subjektivnim blagostanjem pri čemu su kao potencijalni medijatori razmatrani optimizam i pesimizam, a shodno pomenutom teorijskom modelu i dosadašnjim empirijskim nalazima, čini se opravdanim pretpostavka da upravo oni mogu imati medijacionu ulogu u relaciji ovih varijabli.…”