Multidimensional perfectionism and assortative mating: A perfect date?

Abstract

Document VersionPublisher pdf Hoffmann, A., Stoeber, J., & Musch, J. (2015). Multidimensional perfectionism and assortative mating: A perfect date? Personality and Individual Differences, 86, 94-100. DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2015 Multidimensional Perfectionism and Assortative Mating: Assortative mating has been found regarding personality traits, personal attitudes and values, and cognitive abilities, but so far no study has investigated assortative mating regarding multidimensional perfectionism. A total of 422 participants from a non-commercial panel (mean age = 36.0 years) completed measures of self-oriented, other-oriented, and socially prescribed perfectionism and rated the attractiveness of four potential dating partners ("dates"): a selforiented, an other-oriented, a socially prescribed, and a non-perfectionist date. Results showed that all perfectionist dates were seen as less attractive than the non-perfectionist date. This effect, however, was moderated by self-oriented and other-oriented perfectionism. Participants high in self-oriented perfectionism found all three perfectionist dates more attractive than participants low in self-oriented perfections. Participants high in other-oriented perfectionism found the selforiented perfectionist date more attractive, and the non-perfectionist date less attractive than participants low in other-oriented perfectionism. The findings are discussed with respect to assortative mating, the social disconnection model of perfectionism, and the heritability of perfectionism.

Perfectionism.

“…Similarly, Kleszewski and Otto (2020) conducted a conceptual replication of this finding by asking participants to rate vignettes in terms of how much they would like to have the person described as a coworker. In line with Hoffmann et al (2015), the majority of participants rated individuals with self-oriented, other-oriented, and socially prescribed perfectionism as significantly less desirable coworkers relative to those who were not perfectionistic. Considering these findings together, it appears that individuals with perfectionism exist in a bleak psychosocial milieu, in which they are both more likely to perceive and elicit the very abandonment and rejection they so desperately wished to avoid by being or appearing perfect.…”

“…Besides research on other-oriented perfectionism, Mandel and colleagues (2015) reported that a factor composed of socially prescribed perfectionism and related attitudes predicted interpersonal sensitivity, which, in turn, predicted greater clinician-rated social disconnection four years later. Likewise, Hoffmann et al (2015) asked participants to rate vignettes describing individuals high and low in perfectionism in terms of their desire to go on a date with them. Findings revealed that most participants rated the hypothetical individuals with self-oriented, other-oriented, and socially prescribed perfectionism as significantly less desirable than individuals without perfectionism.…”

The role of intergenerational similarity and parenting in adolescent self‐criticism: An actor–partner interdependence model

“…In the early phase of the formation of a partner relationship, people may select each other on the basis of personality traits (including self‐criticism) and the interpersonal style associated with these traits (including a psychologically controlling style) (Blatt & Zuroff, 1992; Luyten, Corveleyn, & Blatt, 2005). For example, Hoffmann, Stoeber, and Musch (2015), in a sample of 422 participants and potential dating partners, found that participants rated their dates as more attractive if there was similarity between them in terms of perfectionism. However, one parent's self‐criticism and achievement‐oriented psychological control may also influence the other parent's self‐criticism and parenting style in the course of their partner relationship (Luyten et al., 2005; Zuroff & Duncan, 1999).…”

Perfectionism and its role in depressive disorders.

“…Likewise, Hoffmann et al (2015) had a large sample of community adults rate vignettes describing individuals with and without perfectionism in terms of their desire to go on a date with them. Unfortunately for the hypothetical self-oriented, other-oriented, and socially prescribed perfectionists described in the vignettes, participants tended to rate them as significantly less desirable dating partners relative to nonperfectionists.…”