The Explication of Primary School Students’ Perfectionist Properties with Irrational Beliefs

Abstract

This study aims to explore the relationships between Primary School Key Stage II students’
perfectionism as a personality trait and irrational beliefs and to investigate whether irrational beliefs predict
perfectionism. The sample of research consisted of 532 students in Konya, Turkey, 253 of which were male and
279 were female. Irrational Beliefs Scale for Adolescents, Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale and Personal
Information Form were used as data collection materials. Pearson’s Product Moments Correlation and multiple
regression analysis were conducted for statistical data analysis. The results of the study indicated a positive
correlation between irrational beliefs and interest in errors, distrust in behaviours, family expectations and
parental criticism. Moreover, the results suggested that demand for success could account for the following
dimensions; interest in errors, interest in behaviours, family expectations, parental criticism and personal
criticism. Analysis of the data also indicated that demand for respect accounted for interest in behaviours, family
expectations, parental criticism, personal criticism and order and that demand for comfort accounted for interest
in errors, parental criticism, personal criticism and order.