Evaluating the Relationship Between Malignant Self-Regard and Achievement Striving

Clinical psychological research has identified an empirical and theoretical overlap among Masochistic (also known as Self-Defeating), Depressive, and Vulnerably Narcissistic forms of personality pathology. Together, these personalities have been found to possess many overlapping characteristics, which are proposed to be described through the Malignant SelfRegard personality construct (MSR; Huprich, in press). MSR is characterized by self-criticism, perfectionistic tendencies, frequent depression, desires for interrelatedness, feelings of inadequacy, shame, guilt, hypersensitivity to criticism, self-defeating actions, pessimism, and poor anger management. MSR captures the mind’s self-destructive attack on one’s sense of self, which signals concern about how the “self” is being viewed by others. This, in turn, affects one’s self-representation, which consequently affects his/her interpersonal relationships and subsequent behavior. Some of the many dimensions requiring ongoing evaluation in the MSR construct are the observable personality characteristics and behaviors that are expressions of its underlying pathology. One observable characteristic particularly associated with MSR is achievement striving. Thus, this study will examine the theoretical relationship between MSR and achievement striving. The following personality dimensions will then be evaluated for their relationship to MSR: perfectionism, effortful control, impression management, 1 Evich: Malignant Self-Regard and Achievement Striving Published by DigitalCommons@EMU, 38 relationship satisfaction, and academic achievement. It is hypothesized that perfectionism, effortful control, positive impression-management strategies, and academic achievement will be positively correlated with MSR, while relationship satisfaction will be negatively correlated. Results of this study will provide a richer understanding of the nature of MSR. Malignant Self-Regard Malignant Self-Regard is a personality construct that reflects the mind’s destructive attack on an individual’s selfconcept. This process of “self-under-attack” is insidious and tends to become activated when one’s desires to be loved, cared for, or accepted by others become hindered by their own selfcritical thoughts (Huprich & Nelson, 2014). These situations of failed interrelatedness can lead to a dysregulation of one’s selfregard, which in turn can create a pathological understanding and manifestation of the self (i.e., MSR). As a suggested organizational framework for the overlap between (1) Masochistic (Self-Defeating), (2) Depressive, and (3) Vulnerably Narcissistic personalities, MSR gives attention to the common psychological processes that are at work within the minds of those who suffer from this kind of personality pathology. These internal processes are consistently activated in specific situations, which can indicate pathological elements in one’s functioning (Huprich, in press). In efforts to assess MSR and some conditions under which specific, related thoughts and feelings become activated, Huprich developed the Malignant Self-Regard Questionnaire (MSRQ; Huprich, 2011), a 52-item Likert-format, self-report measure utilized to assess the MSR construct. The MSRQ has been proven to be reliable and valid when assessed against an undergraduate population (Huprich & Nelson, 2014). Huprich and Nelson (2014) highlighted the following as characteristics of MSR: “depression proneness; guilt, shame, and inadequacy; self-criticism; hypersensitive self-focus; pessimism; perfectionism in the context of grandiose fantasies about the self; desires for approval and acceptance; masochism; and problematic management of their anger” (p. 991). It is through the expression Carly D. Evich 2 McNair Scholars Research Journal, Vol. 7 [], Iss. 1, Art. 6 http://commons.emich. edu/mcnair/vol7/iss1/6 39 of these dynamic characteristics that the pathological processes of MSR are evidenced. As mentioned, however, the activation of MSR is generally situationally-driven, with it most often occurring “during interpersonal contexts that evoke concerns about how the self is being viewed by others” (Huprich & Nelson, 2014, p. 991). Therefore, the MSR personality can often operate in a seemingly harmless way, with its maladaptive features remaining undetected. For example, Huprich (in press) notes that MSR individuals can appear well-functioning and without any underlying personality in their better times. In fact, many MSR individuals will go to great lengths to assist others, even choosing to put themselves in seemingly critical environments that make them uncomfortable, all for the chance at interpersonal relatedness or approval. However, Huprich (in press) explains that when they are unrecognized, disapproved of, or met with low levels of interest, MSR sufferers will likely feel hurt, angry, disappointed, and possibly engage in self-defeating behaviors”. Outwardly, though, it may appear that these individuals are receiving adequate levels of attention and validation (Huprich, in press). This explains why the MSR personality can remain unrecognized by others, yet still have detrimental effects on one’s self-representation, due to its underlying, internally experienced pathology. After assessing the reliability and validity of the MSR construct, Huprich and Nelson (2014) concluded that two primary, interrelated dimensions contribute to MSR. These involve “being particularly self-critical and negative while also having perfectionistic and high-seeking aspirations” (p. 995). ). In comparison with the focus on static, behavioral features of pathological personalities within the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Huprich, in press, p. 22), this focus on the interplay of internal thoughts, feelings, and desires is not only unique, but also highlights the common self-structure among Masochistic (Self-Defeating), Depressive and Vulnerably Narcissistic personalities. This self-structure, or way of thinking about and viewing the self, interacts with the way MSR individuals view others. A dynamic interplay between the self and the “other” emerges, which consequently leaves one’s self-representation Evaluating the Relationship Between Malignant Self-Regard and Achievement Striving 3 Evich: Malignant Self-Regard and Achievement Striving Published by DigitalCommons@EMU, 40 vulnerable to being influenced by others’ opinions (Huprich, in press; Huprich & Nelson, 2014). MSR individuals will internally struggle with their desires for perfection, acceptance, and recognition, because they cannot adequately maintain this internal self-worth on their own, while outwardly experiencing negative, self-deprecating feelings and engaging in self-defeating behavioral patterns. Though central features of MSR personalities, such as self-critical thoughts, and feelings of shame and guilt have been defined, other observable personality characteristics of MSR associated with its underlying pathological elements also require clarification. The identification of such characteristics can assist personality researchers in understanding MSR personalities in everyday settings. One broad domain of observable characteristics of particular interest to this study is achievement striving. Below, an initial overview of the theoretical representations of achievement striving in the current literature will be given. Following this section, a pairwise review at the theoretical level of the relationships between achievement striving and the personalities most associated with MSR will be offered as support for their interrelatedness. The theoretical similarities across these relationships will then be discussed, as will the necessity of further understanding the MSRachievement striving relationship. Achievement Striving Generally speaking, achievement striving is viewed as a characteristic that “reflects high aspirations, diligence and a desire for success. ” (Hill, Hall, & Appleton, 2010, p. 164). Mills (2011) describes achievement striving as “an aspect of personality representing the degree to which an individual seeks to meet certain goals, regardless of the effort necessary to do so” (p. 360). In reference to business, Bluen, Barling, and Burns (1990) view achievement striving as “the extent to which individuals take their work seriously, are active, and work hard” (p. 212). However, the more widely accepted conceptualization of achievement striving in the personality literature may be reflected at the item level Carly D. Evich 4 McNair Scholars Research Journal, Vol. 7 [], Iss. 1, Art. 6 http://commons.emich. edu/mcnair/vol7/iss1/6 41 within Costa and McCrae’s (1992) Conscientiousness domain scale of the NEO-PI-R (as cited in Moon, 2001). Moon (2001) notes that the items of Costa and McCrae’s Achievement Striving domain scale reflect self-centered, high aspiration levels, which stress an individual’s personal and career goals without concern for others. In the NEO-PI-R Manual (Costa & McCrae, 1992), “the items of the C4: Achievement Striving facet scale. suggest that high scorers have goals which they pursue in an orderly and energetic fashion.and that they may sometimes devote themselves excessively to work” (Costa and McCrae, 1998, p. 122). In contrast, Costa and McCrae (1998), as well as Hogan and Hogan (1992) and Watson and Clark (1997), recognize that “other conceptions of achievement striving are entirely possible: they might emphasize attention seeking, leadership, or social dominance, and might be more closely related to Extraversion than Conscientiousness” (Costa & McCrae, 1998, p. 123). As evidence of this conceptual variability, a different conceptualization of achievement striving is needed when applied to MSR personalities. Although partially aligned with MSR, Costa and McCrae’s aforementioned definition of achievement striving fails to reflect the influence of others’ perceptions on one’s desire to achieve and be recognized. For exam