Negative Early Parenting on the Development of Perfectionism: Mediating Effects of Attachment Anxiety, Attachment Avoidance, and Defective Sense of Self

The study examines developmental antecedents of perfectionism, the demand that one must be or appear to be perfect. Results show attachment anxiety, avoidance, and a defective sense of self mediate the relationship between early negative parenting and perfectionism. Thus, poor caregiver-child relationships drive perfectionism through attachment insecurity and negative self-schemas.