The “Perfect Storm” – Perfectionists’ Perceptions and Experiences of Abusive Supervision

Abstract. Using followership theory and the perpetrator predation framework, we examine how perfectionism may impact subordinates’ perceptions of abusive supervision and risk for being targeted by an abusive supervisor. Full-time workers ( N = 495) responded to a vignette survey assessing their multidimensional perfectionism and experiences and perceptions of abusive supervision. As hypothesized, socially prescribed perfectionism was associated with increased experiences of abusive leadership, whereas self-oriented perfectionism was related to fewer experiences. Unexpectedly, other-oriented perfectionism was related to lower perceptions of abusive supervision, and self-oriented perfectionism was related to greater perceptions. Theoretical and practical implications are further discussed.