Maladaptive perfectionists are more impulsive than adaptive perfectionists in a monetary gambling task

Abstract

Perfectionism is a personality disposition usually defined considering the demands toward performance outcomes. Maladaptive perfectionists have more concerns over getting adverse performance outcomes than adaptive perfectionists. As an indicator of impulsivity, individuals' reaction time is significantly shorter after getting negative performance feedback than positive feedback. We conducted the present study to investigate the differences among perfectionists concerning the task-based impulsivity measures after getting negative and positive performance outcomes in a gambling task. A sample of 60 adults (22 adaptive, 20 maladaptive, and 18 non-perfectionists) performed a monetary gambling task while receiving positive or negative feedback. The findings revealed that maladaptive perfectionists had more impulsive responses than the other groups regardless of the feedback. The adaptive perfectionists spent more time choosing answers after each kind of feedbacks to make accurate decisions. The reinforcement sensitivity probably addresses the between-group differences of perfectionists in impulsivity. The findings of this study will help clarify the complex process of learning.