Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Perfectionism and Interpersonal Sensitivity in Social Phobia: The Interpersonal Aspects of Perfectionism

  • Research in Progress
  • Published:
Psychological Studies Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We examined perfectionism, interpersonal sensitivity and dysfunctional cognitions in patients with Social Phobia (SP). The sample consisted of a clinical group with a diagnosis of SP (n = 30) and a non clinical group (n = 30), matched for age and gender. Both groups were assessed on Frost’s Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (FMPS), Interpersonal Sensitivity Measure (IPSM), and Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale (DAS). The clinical sample was also assessed on Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS), Beck’s Depression Inventory-II, Eysenck’s Personality Inventory-Neuroticism sub-scale (EPI- N). The two groups were compared on FMPS, IPSM and DAS using t-test. Associations between FMPS, IPSM, DAS and predictors of social anxiety and depression were examined. The clinical group scored higher on perfectionism, interpersonal sensitivity and dysfunctional cognitions. There was no significant association between total scores on FMPS and IPSM. However subscales of IPSM and FMPS were correlated. Doubt about Actions was associated with Separation Anxiety (r = 0.520) and Timidity (r = 0.407). Organization was related to Interpersonal Awareness (r = 0.371) and Separation Anxiety (r = 0.407). Parental criticism was negatively associated with fragile inner self. DAS was positively correlated with FMPS and IPSM. Interpersonal sensitivity emerged as a significant predictor of social anxiety. Discriminant Functional Analysis indicated that concern over mistakes, organization, fragile inner self, separation anxiety discriminated between the clinical and non-clinical groups.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abraham, A., Rao, P. S. S., & Verghese, A. (1977). Standardization of vernacular translation of Eysenck Personality Inventory. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 19, 60–66.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alden, L. E., & Taylor, C. T. (2004). Interpersonal perspectives on social phobia. Clinical Psychology Review, 24(Special Issue), 857–882.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association. (1980). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (3rd ed.). Washington: American Psychiatric Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed.). Washington: American Psychiatric Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Antony, M. M., Purdon, C. L., Huta, V., & Swinson, R. P. (1998). Dimensions of perfectionism across anxiety disorders. Behavior Research and Therapy, 36, 1143–1154.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baker, S. L., Heinrichs, N., Kim, H., & Hofmann, S. G. (2002). The Liebowtiz social anxiety scale as a self report instrument: a preliminary psychometric analysis. Behavior Research and Therapy, 40, 710–715.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beck, A. T., Steer, R. A., & Brown, G. (1996). Beck depression inventory–II manual. San Antonio: The Psychological Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beuke, C. J., Fischer, R., & McDowall, J. (2003). Anxiety and depression: why and how to measure their separate effects. Clinical Psychology Review, 23, 831–848.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Blatt, S. J. (1995). The destructiveness of perfectionism: implications for the treatment of depression. American Psychologist, 50, 1003–1020.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Biran, M. W., & Reese, C. (2007). Parental influences on social anxiety: the sources of perfectionism. Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association, 55, 282–285.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Boyce, P., & Parker, G. (1989). Development of a scale to measure interpersonal sensitivity. The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 23, 341–351.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Boyce, P., & Mason, C. (1996). An overview of depression-prone personality traits and the role of interpersonal sensitivity. The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 30(1), 90–103.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Boyce, P., Parker, G., Barnett, B., Cooney, M., & Smith, F. (1991). Personality as a vulnerability factor to depression. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 159, 106–114.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Boyce, P., Hickie, I., Parker, G., & Mitchell, P. (1993). Specificity of interpersonal sensitivity to non-melancholic depression. Journal of Affective Disorders, 27, 101–105.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Christensen, N. P., Stein, M. B., & Christensen, M. A. (2003). Social anxiety and interpersonal perception: a social relations model analysis. Behavior Research and Therapy, 41, 1355–1371.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clark, D. M., & Wells, A. (1995). A cognitive model of social phobia. In R. G. Heimberg, M. R. Liebowitz, D. A. Hope, & F. R. Schneier (Eds.), Social phobia: Diagnosis, assessment and treatment (pp. 69–93). New York: Guildford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dobson, K. S., & Breiter, H. J. (1983). Cognitive assessment of depression: reliability and validity of three measures. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 92(1), 107–109.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dozois, D. J. A., & Covin, R. (2004). The Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), and Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSS). In: M. Hersen (Series Ed.), D. L. Segal & M. Hilsenroth (Vol 2, Eds.), Comprehensive handbook of psychological assessment: Personality assessment and psychopathology (pp. 50–69). New York: Wiley.

  • Eng, W., Heimberg, R. G., Hart, T. A., Schneier, F. R., & Liebowitz, M. R. (2001). Attachment in individuals with social anxiety disorder: relationships among adult attachment styles, social anxiety and depression. Emotion, 1(4), 365–380.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Enns, M. W., & Cox, B. J. (1997). Personality dimensions and depression: review and commentary. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 42, 274–284.

    Google Scholar 

  • Enns, M. W., Cox, B. J., & Clara, I. P. (2005). Perfectionism and neuroticism: a longitudinal study of specific vulnerability and diathesis-stress models. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 29(4), 463–478.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eysenck, H. J., & Eysenck, S. B. G. (1964). Manual of the Eysenck Personality Inventory. London: University of London Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fedewa, B. A., Burn, D., & Gomez, A. A. (2005). Positive and negative perfectionism and the shame/guilt distinction: adaptive and maladaptive characteristics. Personality and Individual Differences, 38(7), 1609–1619.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Flett, G. L., & Hewitt, P. L. (2002). Perfectionism and Maladjustment: An overview of theoretical, definitional, and treatment issues. In G. L. Flett & P. L. Hewitt (Eds.), Perfectionism: Theory research and treatment (pp. 5–31). Washington: American Psychological Association.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Flett, G. L., Hewitt, P. L., & Singer, A. (1995). Perfectionism and parental authority styles. Individual Psychology, 1, 50–57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flett, G. L., Velyvis, V., & Hewitt, P. L. (2001). Dimensions of Perfectionism and Interpersonal sensitivity. In: G. L. Flett & P. L. Hewitt (Eds.) (2002). Perfectionism: Theory research and treatment (pp. 5–31). Washington DC: American Psychological Association.

  • Fresco, D. M., Coles, M. E., Heimberg, R. G., Liebowitz, M. R., Hami, S., Stein, M. B., & Goetz, D. (2001). The Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale: a comparison of the psychometric properties of self-report and clinician-administered formats. Psychological Medicine, 31, 1025–1035.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Frost, R. O., & Stekettee, G. (1997). Perfectionism and obsessive compulsive disorder. Behavior Research and Therapy, 35, 291–296

    Google Scholar 

  • Frost, R. O., Marten, P., Lahart, C. M., & Rosenblate, R. (1990). The dimensions of perfectionism. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 74, 449–468.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frost, R. O., Lahart, C., & Rosenblate, R. (1991). The development of perfectionism. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 15, 469–489.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frost, R. O., Turcotte, T. A., Heimberg, R. G., Mattia, J. I., Holt, C. S., & Hope, D. A. (1995). Reactions to mistakes among subjects high and low in perfectionistic concern over mistakes. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 19, 195–205.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Furmark, T. (2002). Social phobia: overview of community surveys. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavia, 105(2), 84–93.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goldberg, D. P., & Williams, P. (1988). A User’s guide to the General Health Questionnaire. Windsor: NFER-Nelson Publishing Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harb, G. C., Heimberg, R. G., Fresco, D. M., Schneier, F. R., & Liebowitz, M. R. (2002). The psychometric properties of the Interpersonal Sensitivity Measure in social anxiety disorder. Behavior Research and Therapy, 40, 961–979.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heimberg, R. G., Juster, H. R., Hope, D. A., & Mattia, J. I. (1995) Cognitive behavioral group treatment: description, case presentation and empirical support. In M. B. Stein (Ed.), Social Phobia: Clinical and Research Perspectives. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press, 293–321.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heimberg, R. G. (1996). Social phobia, avoidant personality disorder and the multiaxial conceptualization of interpersonal anxiety. In P. M. Salkovskis (Ed.), Trends in cognitive and behavioural therapies (pp. 43–61). Chichester: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hewitt, P. L., & Flett, G. L. (1991). Dimensions of perfectionism in unipolar depression. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 100, 98–101.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hewitt, P. L., & Flett, G. L. (1993). Dimensions of perfectionism, daily stress and depression: a test of the specific vulnerability hypothesis. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 102, 58–65.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hewitt, P. L., Flett, G. L., & Ediger, E. (1996). Perfectionism and depression: longitudinal assessment of a specific vulnerability hypothesis. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 105, 276–280.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hewitt, P. L., Flett, G. L., Sherry, S. B., Habke, M., Parkin, M., Ediger, E., et al. (2003). The Interpersonal expression of perfection: perfectionistic self-presentation and psychological distress. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(6), 1303–1325.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jain, M., & Sudhir, P. M. (2010). Perfectionism in social phobia. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 3(4), 216–222.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Juster, H. R., Heimberg, R. G., Frost, R. O., Holt, C. S., Mattia, J. I., & Faccenda, K. (1996). Social phobia and perfectionism. Personality and Individual Differences, 21, 403–410.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kashdan, T. B., & Wenzel, A. (2005). A Transactional Approach to social anxiety and genesis of interpersonal closeness: self, partner and social context. Behavior Therapy, 36, 335–346.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kawamura, K. Y., Frost, O. R., & Harmatz, M. G. (2002). The relationship of perceived parenting styles to perfectionism. Personality and Individual Differences, 32(2), 317–327.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liebowitz, M. R. (1987). Social phobia. Modern Problems of Pharmaco psychiatry, 22, 141–173.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu, Q., Zhou, Shi-jie, Yang, Hong-jun, Chu, Yan-min, & Liu, Li. (2009). Adolescent’s adult attachment and its relationship with parenting styles. Chinese Journal of Clinical Psychology, 17(5), 615–619.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nalini, N. R., Kumaraiah, V., & Subbakrishna, D. K. (1996). Cognitive Behavioral therapy in the treatment of neurotic depression. NIMHANS Journal, 14, 31–35.

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Connor, R. C., & O’Connor, D. B. (2003). Predicting hopelessness and psychological distress: the role of perfectionism and coping. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 50(3), 362–372.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rice, K. G., Ashby, J. S., & Preusser, K. J. (1996). Perfectionism, relationships with parents, and self-esteem: Individual Psychology. Journal of Adlerian Theory, Research and Practice, 52, 246–260.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rice, K. G., Lopez, F. G., & Vergara, D. (2005). Parental/social influences on perfectionism and adult attachment orientations. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 24(4), 580–605.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosser, S., Issakidis, C., & Peters, L. (2003). Perfectionism and social phobia: relationship between the constructs and impact on cognitive behavior therapy. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 27(2), 143–151.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saboonchi, F., Lundh, L., & Öst, L. G. (1999). Perfectionism and self-consciousness in social phobia and panic disorder with agoraphobia. Behavior Research and Therapy, 37(9), 799–808.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sahin, N., & Sahin, N. H. (1992). How dysfunctional are dysfunctional attitudes in other cultures. The British Journal of Medical Psychology, 67, 17–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sakado, K., Sato, T., Uehara, T., Sakado, M., Kuwabara, H., & Someya, T. (1999). The association between the high interpersonal sensitivity type of personality and a lifetime history of depression in a sample of employed Japanese adults. Psychological Medicine, 29(5), 1243–1248.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shafran, R., Cooper, Z., & Fairburn, C. G. (2002). Clinical perfectionism: a cognitive–behavioural analysis. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 40, 773–791.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shah, S. P., & Kataria, L. ( 2010). Social Phobia and its impact on Indian University students. Internet Journal of Mental Health, 6, 2, ISN 1531–2941.

  • Sharma, P. (2007). Vulnerability to Depression: A Study of Personality and cognitive processes and coping behaviour PhD Thesis. NIMHANS (Deemed University), Bangalore. In Psychological Research in Mental Health and Neurosciences. 1957–2007, (p371), A. Shah, & K. Rao (Eds.). NIMHANS (Deemed University): Bangalore.

  • Sheehan, D. K., Lecrubier, Y., Sheehan, K. H., Amorim, P., Janavs, J., Weiller, E., et al. (1998). Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview Plus: the development and validation of a structured diagnostic psychiatric interview for DSM-IV and ICD-10. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 59(20), 22–33.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shumaker, E. A., & Rodebaugh, T. L. (2009). Perfectionism and social anxiety: rethinking the role of high standards. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 40(3), 423–433.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Slaney, R. B., Chadha, N., Mobley, M., & Kennedy, S. (2000). Perfectionism in Asian Indians: exploring the meaning of the construct in India. The Counseling Psychologist, 28, 10–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Soenens, B., Elliot, A. J., Goossens, L., Vansteenkiste, M., Luyten, P., & Duriez, B. (2005). The intergenerational transmission of perfectionism: parents’ psychological control as an intervening variable. Journal of Family Psychology, 19(3), 358–366.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Solyom, L., Ledwidge, B., & Solyom, C. (1986). Delineating social phobia. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 149, 464–470.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sriram, I. G., Chandrashekhar, C. R., Issac, M. K., & Shanmugam, V. (1989). The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). Comparison of the English version and a translated Indian version. Social Psychiatry and Epidemiology, 24, 317–320.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turk, C. L., Lerner, J., Heimberg, R. G., & Rapee, R. M. (2001). An integrated cognitive-behavioral model of social anxiety. In S. G. Hofmann & P. M. DiBartolo (Eds.), From social anxiety to social phobia: Multiple perspectives (pp. 281–303). Needham Heights: Allyn and Bacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vidyanidhi, K., & Sudhir, P. M. (2009). Interpersonal sensitivity and dysfunctional cognitions in social anxiety and depression. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 2, 25–28.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Watson, D., & Friend, R. (1969). Measurement of social-evaluative anxiety. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 33, 448–457.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weissman, A. N., & Beck, A. T. (1978). Development and validation of the Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale: A Preliminary Investigation. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (62nd, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, March 27–31, 1978).

  • Wilhelm, K., Boyce, P., & Brownhill, S. (2004). The relationship between interpersonal sensitivity, anxiety disorders and major depression. Journal of Affective Disorders, 79, 33–41.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization. (1992). The ICD-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioral Disorders-Clinical descriptions and diagnostic guidelines. New Delhi: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Dr. D. K. Subbakrishna, Professor and Head Department of Biostatistics, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences Bangalore, for his inputs on the research protocol.

Funding source

None. The paper is based on the research carried out by the first author as part of her M.Phil dissertation, under the guidance of the second author.

Conflict of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Psychology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, 560029, India

    R. Selvi Kumari & Paulomi M. Sudhir

  2. Department of Biostatistics, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, 560029, India

    P. Mariamma

Authors
  1. R. Selvi Kumari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Paulomi M. Sudhir
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. P. Mariamma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Paulomi M. Sudhir.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kumari, R.S., Sudhir, P.M. & Mariamma, P. Perfectionism and Interpersonal Sensitivity in Social Phobia: The Interpersonal Aspects of Perfectionism. Psychol Stud 57, 357–368 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12646-012-0157-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12646-012-0157-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation