PERFECTIONISM IN THE CONTEXT OF THE REVISED REINFORCEMENT SENSITIVITY THEORY

Abstract

The main goal of this research was to examine the role of personality traits in predicting the two aspects of perfectionism – maladaptive evaluation concerns and positive strivings. Personality traits were postulated by the Revised Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory, while the dimensions of perfectionism were defined by the Model of Perfectionism developed by Frost et al. The sample consisted of 299 students of the Faculty of Philosophy in Niš (79.3% were female), aged 19 to 29 years (M = 20.34; SD = 1.83). The instruments used were: the Reinforcement Sensitivity Questionnaire (RSQ), and the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (MPS). The main takeaways of this research indicate that the Behavioural Inhibition System (BIS) is the strongest and positive correlate of maladaptive evaluation concerns, followed by Freeze and Fight. Unlike personality defence systems, the Behavioural Approach System (BAS) shows a negative correlation with the abovementioned criterion. The total percentage of explained variance for maladaptive evaluation concerns is 23%. When positive strivings are used as the criterion, BAS is seen as a positive correlate only in the first step of the hierarchical regression analysis. However, Flight and Fight represent consistent and positive correlates of this criterion. The total percentage of explained variance for positive strivings is 6.9%. The findings are consistent with the Revised Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory and available empirical findings from previous studies. Moreover, the results indicate that in the context of the abovementioned personality theory, maladaptive evaluation concerns and positive strivings can be understood as maladaptive forms of perfectionism, which deviates from previous understandings of perfectionism.