Abstract
Using dot-probe task design, two experiments were conducted to explore the attentional bias models of participants to imperfect figures. In experiment 1, pairs of figures (one of the pair may be imperfect) appeared on the computer screen for 1000ms. Then, at the center of one of the paired figures appears an arrow, pointing upward or downward. Participants (perfectionists and non-perfectionists) were asked to press one of the two keys on a joystick as quickly and accurately as possible to indicate the direction of the arrow. Such task purported to contrast the attentional biases between the two groups. The second experiment used the same task design except that the time of the figure appearance was shorter (750ms). According to the two experiments, the researcher inferred the shift of attention (from 750ms to 1000ms) when the imperfection of figures were noticed.
Results indicated that individuals low on perfectionism tended to show avoidance to the imperfect figures when the imperfect-perfect stimulus pairs were presented. In contrast, highly perfectionistic individuals had a tendency of showing attentional preference to the imperfect figures. The severity of imperfection (mildly imperfect vs. imperfect) of the figures also influenced the models and time courses of participants’ attentional bias. Attention of participants tended to disengage more easily from the mildly imperfect figures (broken line figures) than from the imperfect figures (broken solid figures).
Results suggested that imperfect figures arouse “imperfection anxiety” and induces the attentional capture effects which prevents highly perfectionistic individuals from disengaging their attention from it. According to the two snapshots of attention bias with 750ms and 1000ms exposures, the present study indicated that the attentional capture effects induced by imperfect figures were quite similar in nature to those obtained in previous studies on other anxiety-provoking objects(Yiend & Mathews, 2001; Mogg et al., 2000). Therefore, imperfection anxiety may also be studied and interpreted through cognitive approaches, as pervious studies did on other anxiety and other emotional disorders.
Cite this article
Download Citations
Perfectionism and Attention to Imperfect Figures[J]. Journal of Psychological Science. 2011, 34(3): 532-537
{{custom_sec.title}}
{{custom_sec.title}}
{{custom_sec.content}}