Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (MPS)

The Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (MPS) is a 45-item measure with three trait subscales measuring self-oriented perfectionism, other-oriented perfectionism, and socially prescribed perfectionism. Detailed information regarding the development, validation, and reliability of the MPS subscales is presented in Hewitt & Flett (1991), and Hewitt, Flett, Turnbull-Donovan, & Mikail (1991). A Technical Manual for this scale is available from Multihealth Systems Inc. self-oriented perfectionism (SOP: alpha .89); socially prescribed perfectionism (SPP: alpha .86); other-oriented perfectionism (OOP: alpha 0.79); (Hewitt & Flett‚ 1991)

Listed below are a number of statements concerning personal characteristics and traits. Read each item and decide whether you agree or disagree and to what extent.

• If you strongly agree, circle 7;
• if you strongly disagree, circle 1;
• if you feel somewhere in between, circle any one of the numbers between 1 and 7.
• If you feel neutral and undecided the midpoint is 4.

 

1. When I am working on something, I cannot relax until it is perfect………………………………….. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

2. I am not likely to criticize someone for giving up too easily ……………………………………………….. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

3. It is not important that the people I am close to are successful …………………………………………. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

4. I seldom criticize my friends for accepting second best ………………………………………………………. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

5. I find it difficult to meet others’ expectations of me ……………………………………………………………… 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

6. One of my goals is to be perfect in everything I do ……………………………………………………………….. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

7. Everything that others do must be of top-notch quality………………………………………………………. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8. I never aim for perfection in my work ……………………………………………………………………………………… 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

9. Those around me readily accept that I can make mistakes too ………………………………………….. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

10. It doesn’t matter when someone close to me does not do their absolute best ……………….. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

11. The better I do, the better I am expected to do ………………………………………………………………………. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

12. I seldom feel the need to be perfect ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

13. Anything I do that is less than excellent will be seen as poor work by those around me ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

14. I strive to be as perfect as I can be ……………………………………………………………………………………………..

15. It is very important that I am perfect in everything I attempt …………………………………………….

16. I have high expectations for the people who are important to me …………………………………….

17. I strive to be the best at everything I do……………………………………………………………………………………

18. The people around me expect me to succeed at everything I do ………………………………………..

19. I do not have very high expectations for those around me ………………………………………………….

20. I demand nothing less than perfection from myself ………………………………………………………………

21. Others will like me even if I don’t excel at everything …………………………………………………………..

22. I can’t be bothered with people who won’t strive to better themselves …………………………..

23. It makes me uneasy to see an error in my work……………………………………………………………………..

24. I do not expect a lot from my friends…………………………………………………………………………………………

25. Success means that I work even harder to please others……………………………………………………..

26. If I ask someone to do something, I expect it to be done flawlessly …………………………………..

27. I cannot stand to see people close to me make mistakes ……………………………………………………..

28. I am perfectionistic in setting my goals …………………………………………………………………………………….

29. The people who matter to me should never let me down…………………………………………………….

30. Others think I am okay, even when I do not succeed ……………………………………………………………… 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

31. I feel that people are too demanding of me …………………………………………………………………………….. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

32. I must work to my full potential at all times …………………………………………………………………………… 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

33. Although they may not show it, other people get very upset with me when I slip up ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

34. I do not have to be the best at whatever I am doing ………………………………………………………………

35. My family expects me to be perfect ……………………………………………………………………………………………

36. I do not have very high goals for myself……………………………………………………………………………………

37. My parents rarely expected me to excel in all aspects of my life ………………………………………..

38. I respect people who are average ………………………………………………………………………………………………

39. People expect nothing less than perfection from me …………………………………………………………….

40. I set very high standards for myself …………………………………………………………………………………………..

41. People expect more from me than I am capable of giving ……………………………………………………

42. I must always be successful at school or work………………………………………………………………………..

43. It does not matter to me when a close friend does not try their hardest ………………………….

44. People around me think I am still competent even if I make a mistake ……………………………

45. I seldom expect others to excel at whatever they do …………………………………………………………….