Perfectionism paradox: Perfectionistic concerns (not perfectionistic strivings) affect the relationship between perceived risk and choice

Abstract

We investigate whether, when, and why perfectionism moderates the relationship between perceived risk and choice. Two studies (N = 1784) using different choice domains (appearance and performance) and different samples (women and general population) show consistent results. People with high (vs. low) perfectionistic concerns (PC) are less sensitive to high risks and, hence, are more willing to consider options (i.e., products and services) that entail greater risks. These effects emerge because high-PC (vs. low-PC) individuals have more favorable appraisals, believing that the product or service's benefits are worth its risks even when these risks are substantial. The effects observed for high- vs. low-PC do not obtain for people who are high (vs. low) on a second dimension of perfectionism called perfectionistic strivings (PS). Our findings suggest that high-PC individuals may be a vulnerable segment in society, particularly since (a) people are frequently confronted with decisions about options that promise perfectionistic outcomes, (b) these options can come with high levels of risk, and (c) perfectionistic tendencies have become more prevalent over time. We discuss the implications of these findings for policymakers and future research.