Perfectionism and Cognitive Factors in Distress and Dysfunction in Children and Adolescents: Introduction to the Special Issue

The current article provides an overview of the papers in this special issue on the role of perfectionism in distress and dysfunction among children and adolescents. To our knowledge, this is the first special issue that is focused specifically on the nature and role of perfectionism in maladjustment among children and adolescents. Themes explored in the papers in this special issue include the relevance of a multidimensional approach when studying perfectionism in children and youth, the association between perfectionism and indices of dysfunctional cognitive and self-evaluative processes, and the role of perfectionism in maladaptive coping and self-regulation. Another key theme addressed is the potential usefulness of cognitive-behavioral interventions for perfectionistic children and adolescents at risk for anxiety and depression. In addition to introducing the papers in the special issue, we provide an overview of the historical antecedents of past research and theory that highlights the role of perfectionism in developmental psychopathology. Case studies illustrating dysfunctional perfectionism in children and adolescents are also provided.     

What Is the Word on Self-Motives and Social Perception: Introduction to the Special Issue

Although social, personality, and developmental psychologists have focused on the determinants, processes, and outcomes of social perception on the one hand and self-perception on the other, they have only occasionally explored the relations between the two. In this introduction, I explain how this special issue is designed to explore the links between self- and social perception. In particular, I suggest that perceptions of self and the social world are intrinsically linked because each are influenced by the exact same self-motives, such as the desire to achieve beneficial outcomes for the self, or to maintain the psychic benefits of a positive self-image. Each in its own way, the articles that comprise this special issue illustrate this basic link between the self- and social perception.     

Psychological Perspectives on Entrepreneurship: Cognitive and Social Factors in Entrepreneurs' Success

Why are some entrepreneurs so much more successful than others in starting new companies—ones that create wealth for their societies as well as themselves? Growing evidence suggests that the answer involves the influence of both cognitive and social factors. Successful entrepreneurs appear to think differently than other persons in several respects (e.g., they are less likely to engage in counterfactual thinking but more likely to show overconfidence in their judgments). Similarly, successful entrepreneurs appear to be higher in social competence —the ability to interact effectively with others (e.g., they are better at social perception and adapting to new social situations). These results suggest that the principles and findings of psychology can be invaluable to researchers in the field of entrepreneurship, providing important insights into the factors that influence entrepreneurs' success.     

Positioning Periods: Menstruation in Social Context: An Introduction to a Special Issue

The menstrual cycle is often conceptualized in the biomedical literature as a unidimensional, biological, and pathological aspect of women’s bodies and health. Feminist social science scholars recognize that the biological event of menstruation is experienced and perceived within a broader sociocultural context. The authors of articles in this special issue address the myriad ways menstruation is positioned within this social context, and the consequences for women’s well-being, cognitive functioning, health, sexuality, and social status. Authors examine menstruation as a social stigma, the positioning of menstruation in popular culture, contextual factors relevant to menstruation across the lifespan, the ways women negotiate menstruation in their lives, and the role of women’s social location in shaping their attitudes toward and experiences with menstruation. Implications for future research, education, activism, and clinical intervention are considered.     

Introduction to the Special Issue: The Social Psychology of Academic Achievement: Progress and Prospects

Social Psychology of Education -