The 2 x 2 model of perfectionism: A critical comment and some suggestions

The 2 x 2 model of perfectionism (Gaudreau & Thompson, 2010) is an important, timely, and welcome addition to the debate on the adaptiveness versus maladaptiveness of perfectionism. Research has long differentiated two dimensions of perfectionism ? evaluative concerns perfectionism (ECP) and personal standards perfectionism (PSP) ? but the 2 x 2 model opens new perspectives hypothesizing that pure ECP (the combination of high ECP and low PSP) is more maladaptive than mixed perfectionism (high ECP, high PSP). With this, the model challenges the tripartite model of perfectionism (e.g., Rice & Ashby, 2007) which does not differentiate between pure ECP and non-perfectionism (low ECP, low PSP). However, the 2 x 2 model has some aspects I regard as problematic. First, it is not parsimonious comprising unnecessary and contradictory hypotheses. Second, it encourages the interpretation of statistically nonsignificant results. Third, it makes suggestions about “distinct subtypes” of perfectionism that are confusing because all the model’s hypotheses can be tested with moderated regression analysis (Gaudreau, 2012). This comment makes some suggestions on how to address these aspects so future research can make the best use of the 2 x 2 model’s hypotheses to further advance our understanding of the adaptiveness and maladaptiveness of perfectionism.