SELF-MONITORING OF MISTAKES AMONG SUBJECTS HIGH AND LOW IN PERFECTIONISTIC CONCERN OVER MISTAKES

Subjects high and low in perfectionistic concern over mistakes (CM; Fr ost, Marten, Lahart, & Rosenblate, 1990) monitored their mistakes dail y to test several hypotheses about the nature of mistakes among perfec tionists. High-CM subjects did not report a greater number of mistakes , nor were the mistakes reported by high- and low-CM subjects differen t in quality, based on ratings by independent judges. However; there w ere differences in personal reactions to mistakes, perceptions of the seriousness of mistakes, beliefs about other peoples' reactions to mis takes, and rumination about mistakes. High-CM subjects reacted more st rongly and more negatively to their mistakes. The specific nature of t hese findings and implications for cognitive-behavioral treatment of p erfectionism are discussed.