PERFECTIONISM IN RELATION TO ATTRIBUTIONS FOR SUCCESS OR FAILURE

The present study examined the association between dimensions of perfe ctionism and attributions for success and failure. A sample of 124 stu dents (40 males, 84 females) completed the Multidimensional Perfection ism Scale (MPS) and the Multidimensional Multiattributional Causation Scale (MMCS). The MPS consists of three subscales measuring self-orien ted perfectionism, other-oriented perfectionism, and socially prescrib ed perfectionism. The MMCS measures internal attributions (i.e., abili ty, effort) and external attributions (i.e., luck, contextual factors) for positive and negative hypothetical outcomes in the achievement an d affiliation domains. The main finding of this study was that sociall y prescribed perfectionism was associated with a general tendency to a ttribute outcomes to external causes. This external attribution patter n was obtained for successes and failures in both the achievement and interpersonal spheres. Overall, the main results suggest that socially prescribed perfectionism is associated with perceptions of learned he lplessness. The implications of these findings are discussed.