A Qualitative Study on Personality Traits of Negative Perfectionist

AbstractObjectiveBy comparing the personality traits of negative perfectionist and non-negative perfectionist, the article studies the differences on cognition, emotion and motivation between the two groups.MethodsA qualitative study was conducted. Four negative perfectionists and two non-negative perfectionists were interviewed by semi-structural ways. Qualitative data was analyzed.ResultsCognition: Authority always makes the negative perfectionist oppressive. The self-evaluation of negative perfectionist is dominated by negative composition; to non-negative perfectionist, it involves both negative and positive composition. Both of the two groups are sensitive to the interpersonal environment. The former concentrates on the critics of other individuals, whereas the later converges on the acute awareness and analytical understanding of interpersonal environment. Emotion: The former is apt to be anxious and take a negative reaction, while the latter prefers to take a relatively positive reaction to cope anxious emotion. Motivation: The former pursues a comfortable life style, whereas the latter is inclined to experience various styles of life.ConclusionNegative perfectionist mostly experience negative feelings, motivations, and cognitions; on the contrary, the non-negative perfectionist is inclined to experience positive ones