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Introduction
Perfectionism, and the related constructs of compulsivity and rigidity are implicated in a number of psychological disorders (Bouchard, Rheaume and Ladouceur, 1999; Hewitt and Flett, 1991; Hewitt, Flett and Ediger, 1996; Shafran and Mansell, 2001), including the eating disorders (Bastiani, Rao, Weltzin and Kaye, 1995; Bulik et al., 2003; Davis, 1997; Halmi et al., 2000). Perfectionism appears to be a risk factor for the development of eating disorders (Fairburn, Cooper, Doll and Welch, 1999), and continues to be elevated after weight recovery (Srinivasagam et al., 1995). In more extreme manifestations, perfectionism is part of the broader range of obsessive compulsive personality traits (including rigidity of thought and behaviour) that are commonly comorbid with the eating disorders (Brecelj-Anderluh, Tchanturia, Rabe-Hesketh and Treasure, 2003; Serpell, Livingstone, Neiderman and Lask, 2002). However, there is some lack of clarity about its usefulness as a construct in understanding the eating disorders and psychopathology in general. For example, there has been considerable disagreement about how perfectionism can usefully be defined and measured (Frost, Marten, Lahart and Rosenblate, 1990; Hewitt, Flett, Besser, Sherry and McGee, 2003; Shafran, Cooper and Fairburn, 2003; Stumpf and Parker, 2000). Furthermore, despite evidence for its involvement in psychopathology, some aspects of perfectionism can be beneficial in daily life (Bieling, Israeli and Anthony, 2004). This has led to a number of attempts to distinguish between adaptive and maladaptive, clinical and non-clinical perfectionism (Hewitt and Flett, 1991, 1993; Shafran, Cooper and Fairburn, 2002)
It has recently been suggested (Serpell, Waller, Fearon and Meyer, 2009) that two facets related to but distinct from perfectionism are also important in understanding elements of psychopathology. The first facet is one that is relatively adaptive in many settings, where the individual sticks with tasks when they are tough or laborious in order to achieve a goal (persistence). The second facet is likely to be more maladaptive, and occurs where the individual gets stuck in the same pattern of behaviour, being unable to change tack when the task requirements or goals change (perseveration).
Within self-regulatory theory (Baumeister and Heatherton, 1996; Baumeister, Heatherton and Tice, 1994), persistence is an aspect of self-control - the trait of continuing towards a desired goal despite fatigue or distractions. Such self-control is associated...