How personal standards perfectionism and evaluative concerns perfectionism affect the error positivity and post-error behavior with varying stimulus visibility

Abstract

Error detection is required in order to correct or avoid imperfect behavior. Although error detection is beneficial for some people, for others it might be disturbing. We investigated Gaudreau and Thompson's (Personality and Individual Differences, 48, 532−537, 2010) model, which combines personal standards perfectionism (PSP) and evaluative concerns perfectionism (ECP). In our electrophysiological study, 43 participants performed a combination of a modified Simon task, an error awareness paradigm, and a masking task with a variation of stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA; 33, 67, and 100 ms). Interestingly, relative to low-ECP participants, high-ECP participants showed a better post-error accuracy (despite a worse classification accuracy) in the highvisibility SOA 100 condition than in the two low-visibility conditions (SOA 33 and SOA 67). Regarding the electrophysiological results, first, we found a positive correlation between ECP and the amplitude of the error positivity (Pe) under conditions of low stimulus visibility. Second, under the condition of high stimulus visibility, we observed a higher Pe amplitude for high-ECP-low-PSP participants than for high-ECP-high-PSP participants. These findings are discussed within the framework of the error-processing avoidance hypothesis of perfectionism (Stahl, Acharki, Kresimon, Völler, & Gibbons, International Journal of Psychophysiology, 97, 153-162, 2015).

To err is (perfectly) human: behavioural and neural correlates of error processing and perfectionism

“…Behavioural findings. Similar to previous studies ( Stahl et al , 2015 ; Drizinsky et al , 2016 ), we found no perfectionism-related variations in error rates or general response speed. However, high-PS perfectionists responded more slowly than the low-PS perfectionists after error trials but not after correct trials .…”

“…In summary, these and other electrophysiological findings ( Pieters et al , 2007 ; Tops et al , 2013 ; Stahl et al , 2015 ; Drizinsky et al , 2016 ) pointed towards potentially crucial differences in error-related neural mechanisms in perfectionism subtypes. Here, we investigated perfectionism-related variations in response monitoring using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).…”

“…Unquestionably, errors are crucial events for perfectionists, because errors provide information to optimize future behaviour, but can also be accompanied by unpleasant cognitions and feelings related to blame, shame and failure. Two studies reported perfectionism-related variations in error-processing and behavioural adaptation ( Stahl et al , 2015 ; Drizinsky et al , 2016 ) indexed by two electrophysiological correlates, the error-related negativity (Ne/ERN) and error positivity (Pe) ( Falkenstein et al , 1991 ; Gehring et al , 1993 ). These are well-established neural indicators of post-response processing related to (un-)aware error detection and post-error adaptation (e.g.…”

Differentiating electrophysiological indices of internal and external performance monitoring: Relationship with perfectionism and locus of control

“…The Pe is thought to reflect conscious awareness of error commission (51), as the Pe is much more prominent for conscious errors versus unconscious errors (52). Pe amplitudes are also positively correlated with perfectionistic characteristics, such as high personal standards or high evaluative concerns, but these findings have not always been consistent (45,53). Other studies have shown that blunted Pe amplitudes are related to higher levels of perfectionism (54), again suggesting mixed results when examining the Pe and perfectionism.…”

“…Other studies have shown that blunted Pe amplitudes are related to higher levels of perfectionism (54), again suggesting mixed results when examining the Pe and perfectionism. Due to the wide variety of sample sizes in research to date (n=43 (53); n=94 (45); n=17 (54)) larger-scale studies across a range of perfectionistic tendencies are needed in order to further understand the relationship between perfectionism and the Pe.…”