Theses and Dissertations

ORCID

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1180-1711

Issuing Body

Mississippi State University

Advisor

Berman, Mitchell E.

Committee Member

Dozier, Mary E.

Committee Member

Pratte, Michael S.

Date of Degree

5-13-2022

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Psychology

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Department of Psychology

Abstract

Previous research has demonstrated associations between deliberate self-harm (DSH) and perfectionism, although most of that research used retrospective self-report measures of DSH, which are prone to various cognitive biases. Although perfectionism has been associated with alcohol abuse, no research has examined how alcohol intoxication may moderate the relation between perfectionism and DSH. The aims of this experimental study were to determine if perfectionism is associated with a laboratory analogue of DSH (the Self-Aggression Paradigm) and examine the role of alcohol intoxication as a potential moderator. Using archival data, blood alcohol content (BAC) was manipulated by randomly assigning participants to reach one of four target BACs. Results indicated that perfectionism was not associated with DSH (mean self-administered shock or number of “severe” shocks). There was no interaction between perfectionism and BAC. These findings are discussed within the context of the perfectionism measure’s psychometric characteristics and the strength of previous research findings.

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