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Self-criticism, Strivings and Aggressive Behavior in Spanish Children: The Two Sides of Self-Oriented Perfectionism

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2019

María Vicent Open the ORCID record for María Vicent [Opens in a new window] ,
Cándido J. Inglés ,
Carolina Gonzálvez ,
Ricardo Sanmartín ,
María Pilar Aparicio-Flores  and
José M. García-Fernández
María Vicent*
Affiliation:
Universidad de Alicante (Spain)
Cándido J. Inglés
Affiliation:
Universidad Miguel Hernández (Spain)
Carolina Gonzálvez
Affiliation:
Universidad de Alicante (Spain)
Ricardo Sanmartín
Affiliation:
Universidad de Alicante (Spain)
María Pilar Aparicio-Flores
Affiliation:
Universidad de Alicante (Spain)
José M. García-Fernández
Affiliation:
Universidad de Alicante (Spain)
*
*Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to María Vicent. Universidad de Alicante. Departamento de Psicología Evolutiva y Didáctica. Sant Vicent del Raspeig, Alicante (Spain). E-mail: maria.vicent@ua.es
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Abstract

This study analyzes the relationship between the two intrapersonal perfectionism dimensions (i.e., Self-Oriented Perfectionism-Critical, SOP-C, and Self-Oriented Perfectionism-Strivings, SOP-S) and the components of aggressive behavior (cognitive, emotional and motor) in a sample of 804 (48.3% females) Spanish students between the ages of 8 and 11 (M = 9.57; DE = 1.12). The Spanish versions of the SOP-C and SOP-S subscales of the Child/Adolescent Perfectionism Scale and the Aggression Questionnaire were used. Students with high SOP-C scored significantly higher (p < .001) than their peers with low SOP-C on all components of aggressive behavior. The magnitude of these differences (Cohen’s d index) ranged from .40 to .59. In contrast, non-significant statistical differences were found between students with high and low SOP-S. Moreover, logistic regression analysis revealed that SOP-C significantly and positively predicted high Hostility, Anger and Physical and Verbal Aggression, whereas none of these components were significantly predicted by SOP-S (95% CI). Results are discussed, taking into account the debate on the conceptualization and nature of intrapersonal perfectionism.

Keywords

aggressive behaviorchildhoodSelf-Oriented Perfectionism-CriticalSelf-Oriented Perfectionism-Strivings
Type
Research Article
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 22 , 2019 , E29
Copyright
Copyright © Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos de Madrid 2019 

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Footnotes

This research was supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación with the project awarded to José Manuel García-Fernández (EDU2012-35124); and the VALi+d Program (ACIF/2014/368), granted to María Vicent

How to cite this article:

Vicent, M., Inglés, C. J., Gonzálvez, C., Sanmartín, R., Aparicio-Flores, M. P., & García-Fernández, J. M. (2019). Self-criticism, strivings and aggressive behavior in Spanish children: The two sides of self-oriented perfectionism. The Spanish Journal of Psychology, 22. e29. Doi:10.1017/sjp.2019.29

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