A qualitative study of perfectionism among self-identified perfectionists in sport and the performing arts.

Abstract

(2015) A qualitative study of perfectionism among self-identified perfectionists in sport, dance, and music. Sport, exercise and performance psychology, 44 (4). pp. 237-253. When adopting any measure of perfectionism to examine the characteristic in sport or the 2 performing arts, researchers make assumptions regarding its core features and, sometimes, its 3 effects. So to avoid doing so, in the current study we employed qualitative methods to examine 4 the accounts of self-identified perfectionists. Specifically, the purpose of this study was to 5 explore the opinions and perceptions of high-level, self-identified perfectionists from sport, 6 dance, and music. In particular, we sought to obtain detailed information regarding (i) 7 participants' perceptions of the main features of being a perfectionist and (ii) how they perceived 8 being a perfectionist to influence their lives. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 9 international/professional athletes, dancers, and musicians. Thematic analysis was used to 10 identify patterns and themes within the transcripts. Three overarching themes were identified: 11 drive, accomplishment, and strain. Being a perfectionist was characterised by the participants as 12 having ever increasing standards, obsessiveness, rigid and dichotomous thinking, and 13 dissatisfaction. The participants also described how being a perfectionist influenced their lives 14 by, on the one hand, providing greater capacity for success in their respective domains but, on 15 the other hand, contributing to varying degrees of personal and interpersonal difficulties. The 16 accounts suggest that, in the main, the content of current models and measures adequately 17 capture the features of being a perfectionist in sport and performing arts. However, a greater 18 focus on obsessiveness, dissatisfaction, and intra-versus inter-personal dimensions of 19 perfectionism would provide further insight into the lives of perfectionists in these domains. 20 21 22

Change in basic need frustration in relation to perfectionism, anxiety, and performance in elite junior performers

“…These findings are in line with previous research, which have consistently found EC to be associated with maladaptive motivational processes . One plausible explanation of the occurred relationship between EC and each basic need frustration is the biased mind‐set of EC, which in turn influence the perception of and reaction to environmental requests . The way EC relates to performance evaluations (ie, self‐critical and devaluate) may negatively influence the need for competence.…”

“…22,27,35 One plausible explanation of the occurred relationship between EC and each basic need frustration is the biased mind-set of EC, which in turn influence the perception of and reaction to environmental requests. 60 The way EC relates to performance evaluations (ie, self-critical and devaluate) may negatively influence the need for competence. Moreover, the need for competence might also be frustrated by the way the EC mind-set monitors for critique and disapproval in feedback from others, and thus, further nurture feelings of inferiority and low self-worth.…”

Perfectionism and motivation in sport: The mediating role of mental toughness

“…interpersonal versus intrapersonal dimensions), and the extent to which adaptive and maladaptive aspects of perfectionism are distinguished. 3 Given that socially prescribed features of perfectionism may be internalised and form part of a person's self-imposed perfectionism, 4 we sought optimal parsimony in this study by operationalising perfectionism based solely on intrapersonal dimensions. Along these lines, we drew on the work of others 5,6 and focused on a single feature of each superordinate dimension of perfectionism.…”

Psicologia “do esporte” ou “da performance humana”? Explorando contextos não esportivos e suas implicações teórico-práticas

“…Há também um grande risco de comportamentos obsessivos e transtornos alimentares entre artistas, por conta de uma estrutura corporal muito específica que deve ser alcançada e mantida em determinadas ocupações (Hays, 2002). É importante enfatizar que, ao contrário do que pode se pensar no senso comum, o perfeccionismo e a obsessão não são necessariamente adaptativos em contextos de alta performance, uma vez que a inflexibilidade e comportamentos autodestrutivos estão associados a esses traços (Hill, Mallinson--Howard, & Jowett, 2018;Hill, Witcher, Gotwals, & Leyland, 2015).…”