The Effect of Adaptive Perfectionism, Maladaptive Perfectionism, and Feedback on Procrastination Behaviour

The goal of the current research was to improve on previous studies by more directly examining the relationship between perfectionism and actual procrastination behaviour. In Study 1, participants (N = 167) were given five minutes to prepare for a verbal analogy test during which time they could complete practice materials or play a computer game. After the first test, participants were randomly assigned to receive positive feedback, negative feedback, or no feedback. They then had a second chance to study or play the computer game before they completed another verbal analogy test. Adaptive perfectionism was a significant predictor of less procrastination behaviour on the initial test although feedback on the first test did not change the subsequent behaviour of adaptive perfectionists. Maladaptive perfectionism was not a significant predictor of procrastination behaviour on the initial task. However, for women who were higher in maladaptive perfectionism, the more upset they were from receiving negative feedback on the first task, the more they increased their procrastination on the second task. The purpose of Study 2 was to examine two potential mechanisms, low performance expectations or mood repair, which may have been responsible for the increase in procrastination behaviour seen in women who were higher in maladaptive perfectionism and upset about receiving negative feedback. Participants (N = 138) all received negative feedback on the first test, which was followed by an optimism prime, positive mood prime, or neutral prime. Participants then were given a second chance to study or play the computer game before they completed another verbal analogy test. The positive mood prime did not have a significant effect on procrastination PERFECTIONISM AND PROCRASTINATION ii behaviour. Among women who were lower in adaptive perfectionism, the optimism prime resulted in a decrease in procrastination behaviour for women higher in maladaptive perfectionism and an increase in procrastination behaviour for women lower in maladaptive perfectionism. These findings are discussed in terms of their relevance for the academic outcomes of adaptive and maladaptive perfectionists. PERFECTIONISM AND PROCRASTINATION iii Co-Authorship I assumed primary responsibility for the conceptualization and execution of the research reported in this thesis. In recognition of her assistance in the design of the studies, data analysis, and manuscript preparation, my supervisor, Dr. Jill A. Jacobson, serves as a co-author. PERFECTIONISM AND PROCRASTINATION iv Acknowledgements I would like to thank my supervisor, Dr. Jill Jacobson, for allowing me considerable freedom to pursue an area of research that was of personal interest to me. I have learned a great deal from your expertise, especially in the areas of statistics and academic writing. I would also like to thank my committee members, Dr. Li-Jun Ji and Dr. Kate Harkness. Your input, particularly during the proposal stage of my thesis, was invaluable to the success of this project. I would like to thank my lab mate, Kevin Rounding, for showing me the ropes and for being a friend. I would also like to thank my research assistants, Alyssa Ash, Nadia Mawji, Christine Podzyhun, and Melissa Leung for their help collecting data. Additionally, I would like to thank Jason Rajsic for graciously volunteering to record experimental materials and for helping me program my study. This would not have been possible without the ongoing support of some very special people. I would like to thank my family, especially my parents, for believing in me and encouraging me every step of the way. You were there to celebrate the good times and to convince me not to give up during the challenging times. I would also like to thank a dear friend of mine, Mike Jones, for his unwavering support. I would not have been able to get through these last two years without your encouragement. You were always there for me and kindly put up with my panicked phone calls in the middle of the night. Last but not least, I am thankful for the wonderful group of friends I have made during my time at Queen’s. I am grateful that you were there to provide moral support, to commiserate, to celebrate, and to help me maintain some semblance of a life outside of school. PERFECTIONISM AND PROCRASTINATION v Table of