EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL REJECTION ON IMPULSIVE BEHAVIOR IN MALADAPTIVE PERFECTIONISTS

Socially prescribed perfectionism (SPP) is the belief or perception that others expect perfection of you. As perfectionism increases over time, especially SPP, its consequences require a closer look. High SPP is associated with many maladaptive behaviors such as non-suicidal self-injury, suicidal ideation, binge eating, and binge drinking. Moreover, individuals with high levels of both perfectionism and impulsivity are at an increased risk of developing psychopathology. Yet, mixed results on this relationship have suggested an additional component is involved. Social rejection is theorized to impact both SPP and impulsive behavior in negative ways. However, little empirical evidence has examined the relationship between social rejection, SPP, and impulsive behavior. The current study aimed to evaluate how an experience of social rejection impacts rates of impulsive behavior immediately afterward, specifically in individuals with high levels of socially prescribed perfectionism. Participants (n = 80) completed a battery of self-report measures used to assess personality traits, behavior, and mood, followed by participation in a Cyberball task where they were randomized to be included or ostracized. Mood state was assessed immediately thereafter using a visual analog scale and then participants were directed to engage in a go/no-go task where their impulsive behavior was evaluated. Analyses revealed no significant relationship between social rejection and impulsive behavior, SPP and impulsive behavior, and social rejection as a moderator of the link between SPP and impulsive behavior. Exploratory analyses revealed that individuals who were high in emotion regulation difficulties or social anxiety had significantly higher impulsive behavior when they were ostracized than when they were included. These results indicate that socially prescribed perfectionism is not a robust predictor of impulsive behavior. In addition, social rejection was only able to predict impulsive behavior when individuals were highly socially anxious or had difficulties in emotion regulation. These results suggest that experiences of ostracism should be targeted as a risk factor for maladaptive impulsive behaviors and a focal point for therapeutic interventions regarding building emotion regulation skills and confidence in social interactions.