Development of a model for perfectionism-related variations in error processing: Testing the optimisation hypothesis and the avoidance hypothesis in a multimodal approach
Final Report Abstract
To err is human, but not from the perspective of a perfectionistic person. In a series of four EEG studies and one behavioral study, this project investigates the relationship between behavior and neural correlates of error processing in individuals with different levels of perfectionism. The starting point of the project were three hypotheses on perfectionismrelated specifics in error processing: (a) individuals with high personal standards perfectionism use information from error trials to optimize their behavior (optimization hypothesis); individuals with high evaluative concerns perfectionism (b) either attempt to avoid error processing to reduce negative emotions related to errors and the anticipated negative evaluation by others (avoidance hypothesis), or (c) they are less capable of processing errors due to cognitive capacity being consumed by worries about negative evaluation by others (capacity hypothesis). In the first part (N=30 und N=33), we developed a challenging task (the eight-alternative response task) designed to induce sufficient errors to investigate individuals’ striving for perfection in their responses. In the subsequent part, we employed several alterations of the task, such as explicitly instructing self-evaluation or varying the number of stimulus-response assignments. The project utilized a multi-method approach, incorporating behavioral measures, EEG data, machine-learning-based classification, and computational modeling. Several findings in neural and behavioral correlates indicated that individuals with high evaluative concerns lack the capacity to process errors adequately, rather than explicitly avoid error processing. The primary electrophysiological finding, a statistical interaction between the two facets of perfectionism and response accuracy in relation to error-related negativity, observed in Study 2 (N=90), was replicated in Study 3 (N=137). Preliminary analyses of Study 4 (N=124) further support the capacity hypothesis. Conversely, the optimization hypothesis could neither be confirmed nor falsified by the findings of this project. The results related to both the newly developed task and the perfectionism approach have already inspired several follow-up studies. One of these future studies may contribute to a better understanding of clinically relevant perfectionism, such as in individuals with depression. Since perfectionism is a transdiagnostic phenomenon observed in various conditions like eating disorders, anxiety disorders, and depression, gaining insight into potentially dysfunctional cognitive-emotional strategies may specify therapeutic approaches.
Publications
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Neural correlates of error detection during complex response selection: Introduction of a novel eight-alternative response task. Biological Psychology, 156, 107969.
Stahl, Jutta; Mattes, André; Hundrieser, Manuela; Kummer, Kilian; Mück, Markus; Niessen, Eva; Porth, Elisa; Siswandari, Yohana; Wolters, Peter & Dummel, Sebastian
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Linking neurophysiological processes of action monitoring to post-response speed-accuracy adjustments in a neuro-cognitive diffusion model. NeuroImage, 247, 118798.
Mattes, André; Porth, Elisa & Stahl, Jutta
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Perfectionism-related variations in error processing in a task with increased response selection complexity. Personality Neuroscience, 5.
Mattes, André; Mück, Markus & Stahl, Jutta
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The influence of error detection and error significance on neural and behavioral correlates of error processing in a complex choice task. Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience, 22(6), 1231-1249.
Porth, Elisa; Mattes, André & Stahl, Jutta
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A Neurocognitive Approach to Error Commission and Error Processing in Complex Choice Tasks
Porth, E.
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Larger error negativity peak amplitudes for accuracy versus speed instructions may reflect more neuro-cognitive alignment, not more intense error processing. Scientific Reports, 13(1).
Mattes, André; Porth, Elisa; Niessen, Eva; Kummer, Kilian; Mück, Markus & Stahl, Jutta
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Two perspectives on response monitoring: Perfectionism-related variations and post-response adaptation. Dissertation, University of Cologne.
Mattes, André
