Robert B. Slaney

Self-Criticism, Dependency, Self-Esteem, and Grade Point Average Satisfaction Among Clusters of Perfectionists and Nonperfectionists.

Cluster analyses using the Almost Perfect Scale-Revised (APS-R; R. B. Slaney, M. Mobley, J. Trippi, J. Ashby, & D. G. Johnson, 1996) yielded 3 clusters that represented adaptive perfectionists, maladaptive perfectionists, and nonperfectionists. Maladaptive perfectionist scores were strongly correlated with self-critical depression, but not dependent depression. Adaptive perfectionist scores were correlated with higher self-esteem and greater satisfaction with grade point average (GPA). It was hypothesized that satisfaction with GPA would moderate the relationship between cluster membership and GPA, and that participant gender would moderate the relationship between cluster membership and self-esteem. Neither hypothesis was supported. A comparison of the cluster groups from this sample with those in 2 previous samples (K. G. Rice & R. B. Slaney, 2002) indicated similar scores between clusters. Clinical implications and directions for future research are discussed.

Perfectionism: Its Measurement and Career Relevance

The meaning and measurement of the construct of perfectionism has potentially important implications for career choice and career development. The present article reviews the theoretical and empirical background of perfectionism. It then discusses the scales previously developed to measure perfectionism and describes the development of a new scale, the Almost Perfect Scale (APS; Slaney & Johnson, 1992). Two additional studies are presented on the APS. The first consists of three parts that examine the concurrent validity of the APS and the factor structure of the subscales of the APS relative to the subscales of two other scales developed to measure perfectionism. The second study examines the factor structure of the APS through the use of a confirmatory factor analysis. The results are discussed and suggestions are made for future research that would study the relationship between perfectionism and a variety of career variables.

Cultural Validity of the Almost Perfect Scale-Revised for African American College Students.

This study investigated the cross-cultural construct validity of perfectionism using the Almost Perfect Scale-Revised (APS-R; R. B. Slaney, M. Mobley, J. Trippi, J. S. Ashby, & D. G. Johnson, 1996) with 251 African American college students. A LISREL confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) offered support for the 3 subscales of the APS-R: High Standards, Order, and Discrepancy. Multigroup CFA results for a sample of 314 White college students supported factorial equivalence across the 2 cultural groups. Correlations between the subscales of the APS-R and measures of self-esteem, self-reported grade point average (GPA), satisfaction with GPA, trait anxiety, and depression were consistent with the results of previous research. A cluster analysis was performed on the APS-R; the cluster results were similar to those found in previous studies. Finally, the limitations of the present study and the implications for future research with African Americans are discussed.

Perfectionism and the Five-Factor Model of Personality

In this study of the discriminant, convergent, and incremental validity of the Almost Perfect Scale—Revised (APS-R), university students completed the APS-R, additional measures of perfectionism, the NEO Five-Factor Inventory—Form S, and measures of self-esteem and depression. The results revealed expected significant, but not completely overlapping, associations between the APS-R Discrepancy subscale scores and the Five-Factor Model of Personality (FFM) dimension of Neuroticism, and between the APS-R High Standards and Order subscales and the FFM dimension of Conscientiousness. The incremental validity of APS-R scores over FFM dimensions was supported in analyses of self-esteem but not depression. The implications of these findings for further psychometric and clinical studies of perfectionism and facets of FFM dimensions are discussed.

An investigation of two measures of career indecision

Abstract The present study compared two recent scales developed to measure career indecision, the Career Decision Scale and the Vocational Decision-Making Difficulty Scale. The subjects were 857 male and female undergraduates. The scales were factor analyzed, the total scores were correlated, and the factor structures were examined for similarities and differences. Test-retest correlations were performed on the items, the total scores, and the factor scores of both measures. Subjects who were satisfied with their career choices were compared with subjects who were unsure, dissatisfied, or undecided about their career choices using the items, total scores, and factor scores. The results are discussed along with the implications for the future development of the scales.

Conceptions of Perfectionism and Interpersonal Problems: Evaluating Groups Using the Structural Summary Method for Circumplex Data.

This study examined two conceptions of perfectionism in relation to interpersonal problems. Two hundred and seventy-nine undergraduate participants completed the Almost Perfect Scale-Revised (APS-R) and the Dyadic Almost Perfect Scale (DAPS). The authors used empirically derived discriminant functions (APS-R) and cluster analysis (DAPS) to identify three groups for both measures: adaptive and maladaptive perfectionists and nonperfectionists. Analyses of group profiles were performed on the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems Circumplex (IIP-C) scales using the structural summary method for circumplex data. APS-R and DAPS groups were compared on interpersonal problems endorsement and IIP-C profile characteristics. For both measures, results supported the hypotheses that maladaptive perfectionists would exhibit elevated profiles reflecting hostile-dominant and friendly-submissive interpersonal problems, whereas the adaptive perfectionists would exhibit low profile elevation indicative of interpersonal adjustment. Overall, results supported Slaney and colleagues’ (2001) model of perfectionism and provided evidence for the validity of the APS-R and DAPS.

Perfectionism in Asian Indians Exploring the Meaning of the Construct in India

Two studies explored the meaning of the construct of perfectionism in India. The first study examined the relevance of the Almost Perfect Scale, a measure of the dimensions of perfectionism, for 321 Hindu, Asian Indian students at the University of Delhi. A second study interviewed 5 students and faculty members at the University of Delhi who were selected as potential exemplars of perfectionism. The results of both studies are compared to the results for samples gathered in the United States, and their similarities and differences are discussed.

Career indecision in adult women: A comparative and descriptive study☆

Abstract This study compared 66 high-school women, 66 first-year college women, and 66 adult women on four measures of career indecision, the Satisfaction with Career Scale, the Occupational Alternatives Question, the Vocational Decision Making Difficulty Scale, and the Career Decision Scale. The results consistently suggested that the adult women were experiencing more career indecision than the high-school and college women. Intercorrelations among the scales were generally moderate to somewhat low and raised some questions about the use of the Career Decision Scale with adult women. Additional data were gathered on the adult women in an attempt to delineate the sample. Variables included were: marital status, present work experience, the career-related goals and the reasons for pursuing these goals, and possible impediments to reaching the goals. These results are presented and the implications for future research and counseling with adult women are examined.

The influence of chance and contingency factors on the vocational choice process of nonprofessional workers

Abstract The present study investigated the perceived influence of chance and contingency factors on the career choices of nonprofessional workers. The sample was composed of 447 female workers and 470 male workers. As part of a larger study the workers listed the factors that had influenced their choice of their first job, their present job, and their most satisfying job. They were also asked to consider their entire work history and note events, people, or personal inclinations which influenced their vocational decisions. The workers then rated each of 27 chance or contingency factors concerning the extent of influence (great, some, none) on their career choices. The results are examined and discussed relative to the perceived importance of chance and contingency factors on the career choices of nonprofessional workers. The implications of the results for vocational theory and career counseling are considered.

Perfectionism in African American Students: Relationship to Racial Identity, GPA, Self-Esteem, and Depression

This study examined 219 African American college students at predominantly White universities using the constructs of perfectionism, academic achievement, self-esteem, depression, and racial identity. Cluster analysis was performed using the Almost Perfect Scale-Revised (APS-R), which yielded three clusters that represented adaptive perfectionists, maladaptive perfectionists, and nonperfectionists. These three groups were compared on their scores on the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D), the Cross Racial Identity Scale (CRIS), and Grade Point Average (GPA). Adaptive perfectionists reported higher self-esteem and lower depression scores than both the nonperfectionists and maladaptive perfectionists. Adaptive perfectionists had higher GPAs than nonperfectionists. On the racial identity scales, maladaptive perfectionists had higher scores on Pre-Encounter Self Hatred and Immersion-Emersion Anti-White subscales than adaptive perfectionists. The cultural and counseling implications of this study are discussed and integrated. Finally, recommendations are made for future studies of African American college students and perfectionism.