Perfectionism and Fear of Failure in Gifted Children

Intellectually gifted children are often characterized as prone to perfectionism and fear of failure (Basirion et al., 2014; Chan, 2012; Cross & Cross, 2015; Speirs Neumeister, 2016). However, research findings on the association between giftedness and perfectionism seem diverging. In addition, no research on fear of failure among specifically gifted pre-adolescents has been conducted yet. Therefore, the current study investigated the possible differences between gifted pre-adolescents aged 10-12 years old and their non-gifted peers on perfectionistic striving (adaptive perfectionism), perfectionistic concern (maladaptive perfectionism) and fear of failure. An innovative aspect of the current study is that perfectionistic striving was measured with both implicit and explicit measurements. We found that (1) gifted and non-gifted pre-adolescents did not differ in the extent to which they strive for perfectionism, neither implicitly nor explicitly, (2) gifted pre-adolescents showed...Show moreIntellectually gifted children are often characterized as prone to perfectionism and fear of failure (Basirion et al., 2014; Chan, 2012; Cross & Cross, 2015; Speirs Neumeister, 2016). However, research findings on the association between giftedness and perfectionism seem diverging. In addition, no research on fear of failure among specifically gifted pre-adolescents has been conducted yet. Therefore, the current study investigated the possible differences between gifted pre-adolescents aged 10-12 years old and their non-gifted peers on perfectionistic striving (adaptive perfectionism), perfectionistic concern (maladaptive perfectionism) and fear of failure. An innovative aspect of the current study is that perfectionistic striving was measured with both implicit and explicit measurements. We found that (1) gifted and non-gifted pre-adolescents did not differ in the extent to which they strive for perfectionism, neither implicitly nor explicitly, (2) gifted pre-adolescents showed less perfectionistic concern than their non-gifted peers in the form of socially prescribed perfectionism, and (3) gifted and non-gifted pre-adolescents did not differ in the extent to which they showed general fear of failure. Collectively, the findings suggest that gifted preadolescents should not be characterized as vulnerable to fear of failure and perfectionism, both perfectionistic striving and perfectionistic concern. Additionally, our findings emphasize the importance of using both implicit and explicit measures when investigating perfectionism.Show less

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Perfectionism and Fear of Failure in Gifted Children