Abstract
A relationship between perfectionism and religiosity has been suggested in the literature, and this relationship is clarified further when the adaptive and maladaptive dimensions of both constructs are compared. Literature in both areas implicates the idea of a rigid and inflexible personality style that may explain why well meaning high standards can be associated with negative outcomes such as perfectionism. This investigation examined the relationship of perfectionism and religiosity, using adaptive and maladaptive dimensions, as mediated by psychological inflexibility. Validated measures of perfectionism, religiosity, and psychological inflexibility were given to 376 undergraduate college students in an anonymous online survey. Adaptive perfectionism (high standards) was found to be significantly correlated (r = .26, p < .01, two-tailed) with adaptive religiosity (intrinsic orientation). Maladaptive perfectionism (discrepancy) was found to be significantly correlated (r = .13, p < .05, two-tailed) with maladaptive religiosity (extrinsic orientation). Psychological inflexibility was found to be significantly correlated with the maladaptive dimensions of both perfectionism and religiosity. It was also shown to mediate the relationship between maladaptive (extrinsic) religiosity and maladaptive (discrepancy) perfectionism. Implications and future directions are discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abramowitz, J. S., Lackey, G. R., & Wheaton, M. G. (2009). Obsessive-compulsive symptoms: the contribution of obsessional beliefs and experiential avoidance. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 23, 160–166.
Alden, L. E., Ryder, A. G., & Mellings, T. M. B. (2002). Perfectionism in the context of social fears: Toward a two-component model. In G. L. Flett & P. L. Hewitt (Eds.), Perfectionism: Theory, research, and treatment (pp. 373–391). Washington: American Psychological Association.
Allport, G. W., & Ross, J. M. (1967). Personal religious orientation and prejudice. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 5, 432–443.
Ashby, J. S., & Huffman, J. (1999). Religious orientation and multidimensional perfectionism: relationships and implications. Counseling and Values, 43, 178–188.
Ashby, J. S., & Kottman, T. (1996). Inferiority as a distinction between normal and neurotic perfectionism. Individual Psychology: Journal of Adlerian Theory, Research & Practice, 52(3), 237–245.
Ashby, J. S., & Rice, K. G. (2002). Perfectionism, dysfunctional attitudes, and self-esteem: a structural equations analysis. Journal of Counseling & Development, 80(2), 197–203.
Baron, R. M., & Kenny, D. A. (1986). The moderator-mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51, 1173–1182.
Beck, A. T. (1976). Cognitive therapy and the emotional disorders. New York: International Universities Press.
Bond, F. W., Hayes, S. C., Baer, R. A., Carpenter, K. M., Orcutt, H. K., Waltz, T., et al. (2009). Preliminary psychometric properties of the acceptance and action questionnaire—II: A revised measure of psychological flexibility and acceptance. Manuscript submitted for publication.
Burns, D. D. (1980). The perfectionist’s script for self-defeat. Psychology Today, 13, 34–52.
Ellis, A. (1962). Reason and emotion in psychotherapy. New York: Stuart.
Fedewa, B. A., Burns, L. R., & Gomez, A. A. (2005). Positive and negative perfectionism and the shame/guilt distinction: adaptive and maladaptive characteristics. Personality and Individual Differences, 38, 1609–1619.
Flett, G. L., Blankstein, K. R., Hewitt, P. L., & Koledin, S. (1992). Components of perfectionism and procrastination in college students. Social Behavior and Personality, 20(2), 85–94.
Flett, G. L., Hewitt, P. L., Shapiro, B., & Rayman, J. (2001). Perfectionism, beliefs, and adjustment in dating relationships. Current Psychology: Development, Learning, Personality, Social, 20, 289–311.
Freud, S. (1959). Inhibitions, symptoms, and anxiety. In J. Strachey (Ed. and Trans.), The standard edition of the complete psychological works of Sigmund Freud (Vol. 20, pp. 77–175). London: Hogarth. (Original work published 1923).
Frost, R. O., & Steketee, G. (1997). Perfectionism in obsessive-compulsive disorder patients. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 35, 291–296.
Frost, R. O., Marten, P., Lahart, C., & Rosenblate, R. (1990). The dimensions of perfectionism. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 14, 449–468.
Goldner, E. M., Cockell, S. J., & Srikameswaran, S. (2002). Perfectionism and eating disorders. In G. L. Flett & P. L. Hewitt (Eds.), Perfectionism: Theory, research, and treatment (pp. 319–340). Washington: American Psychological Association.
Gorsuch, R. L., & Venable, G. D. (1983). Development and validation of an “age universal” I-E scale. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 22, 181–187.
Hayes, S. C., Luoma, J. B., Bond, F. W., Masuda, A., & Lillis, J. (2006). Acceptance and commitment therapy: model processes and outcomes. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 44, 1–25.
Hewitt, P. L., & Flett, G. L. (1991a). Dimensions of perfectionism in unipolar depression. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 100, 98–101.
Hewitt, P. L., & Flett, G. L. (1991b). Perfectionism in the self and social contexts: conceptualization, assessment, and association with psychopathology. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 60, 456–470.
Hewitt, P. L., & Flett, G. L. (2002). Perfectionism and stress processes in psychopathology. In G. L. Flett & P. L. Hewitt (Eds.), Perfectionism: Theory, research, and treatment (pp. 255–284). Washington: American Psychological Association.
Hewitt, P. L., Flett, G. L., & Weber, C. (1994). Dimensions of perfectionism and suicide ideation. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 18, 439–460.
Horney, K. (1950). Neurosis and human growth. New York: Norton.
Mobley, M., Slaney, R. B., & Rice, K. G. (2005). Cultural validity of the Almost Perfect Scale-Revised for African American college students. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 52, 629–639.
Olatunji, B. O., Forsyth, J. P., & Feldner, M. T. (2007). Implications of emotion regulation for the shift from normative fear-relevant learning to anxiety-related psychopathology. The American Psychologist, 62(3), 257–259.
Slade, P. D., & Owens, R. G. (1998). A dual process model of perfectionism based on reinforcement theory. Behavior Modification, 22, 372–390.
Slaney, R. B., Rice, K. G., Mobley, M., Trippi, J., & Ashby, J. S. (2001). The revised Almost Perfect Scale. Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development, 34, 130–145.
Slaney, R. B., Rice, K. G., & Ashby, J. S. (2002). A programmatic approach to measuring perfectionism: The almost perfect scales. In G. L. Flett & P. L. Hewitt (Eds.), Perfectionism: Theory, research, and treatment (pp. 63–88). Washington: American Psychological Association.
Thelander, S. E. (2002). The relationship of adaptive and maladaptive dimensions of perfectionism to qualities of spiritual functioning (Doctoral dissertation). Dissertation Abstracts International Section B: The Sciences and Engineering, 63, 11B. (UMI No. 3071238).
Wulff, D. M. (1996). The psychology of religion: An overview. In E. Shafranske (Ed.), Religion and the clinical practice of psychology (pp. 43–70). Washington: American Psychological Association.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Crosby, J.M., Bates, S.C. & Twohig, M.P. Examination of the Relationship Between Perfectionism and Religiosity as Mediated by Psychological Inflexibility. Curr Psychol 30, 117–129 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-011-9104-3
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-011-9104-3