Self-comparison versus social-comparison: The impact of imperfection on executive function in perfectionists

Abstract

Perfectionism is closely linked to high academic achievement, yet it is uncertain whether and how this advantage is manifested in cognitive functioning. We aimed to investigate whether the subtypes of perfectionists' executive functions (EF) are more susceptible to self-comparison or social-comparison. We recruited 75 students and provided them with sequential failure feedback based on self-comparison or social-comparison, and their performance on the three components of EF was subsequently recorded. Results indicated that for the perfectionists, receiving feedback that their performance was inferior to others served as a stronger facilitator of EF than when they performed worse than their own goals. Moreover, individual differences were observed. The Mixed-perfectionism group, i.e., those high in both Perfectionism striving (PS) and Perfectionism concern (PC), were more sensitive to social-comparison feedback, whereas those in the Pure PS group were more sensitive to self-comparison feedback. Additionally, the extent of these effects varied across the three components of EF. Strategies for maximizing the facilitative effects of feedback on cognition based on individual differences are discussed.