Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 22, 2026
11:18
Using the Threat Probability Task to Assess Anxiety and Fear During Uncertain and Certain Threat
Published on: September 12, 2014
The pathoplastic relationship between interpersonal problems and fear of failure
Aidan G C Wright1, Aaron L Pincus, David E Conroy
1The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Psychology, 253a Moore Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA. aidan@psu.edu
Journal of Personality
|June 30, 2009
Summary
Individuals with high fear of failure (FF) display distinct interpersonal problems, specifically Domineering/Vindictive or Nonassertive/Exploitable patterns, linked to their self-regulation strategies.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Personality Psychology
Background:
- Fear of failure (FF) is a dispositional, avoidance-oriented achievement motive.
- FF is theorized to involve shame-based self-regulation strategies, such as appeasement and aggression.
- These strategies are hypothesized to correlate with specific interpersonal problems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the pathoplastic relationship between fear of failure and interpersonal problems.
- To identify prototypical interpersonal profiles associated with high fear of failure.
- To investigate the link between shame-based self-regulation strategies and interpersonal difficulties in individuals with FF.
Main Methods:
- Employed interpersonal classification techniques on two independent samples (N=60, N=38) of individuals reporting high FF.
- Analyzed interpersonal profiles for the entire groups and within cluster solutions.
- Assessed pathoplasticity by examining demographic, affective, motivational, personality, and attachment style characteristics.
Main Results:
- Individuals high in FF exhibited two distinct prototypical interpersonal profiles: Domineering/Vindictive and Nonassertive/Exploitable.
- These profiles corresponded with the hypothesized aggression and appeasement self-regulation strategies, respectively.
- The identified interpersonal differences were not explained by other individual characteristics.
Conclusions:
- Fear of failure is associated with specific, predictable interpersonal problem patterns.
- The findings support the pathoplastic concept, illustrating how FF shapes interpersonal difficulties.
- Understanding these profiles can inform interventions for individuals struggling with fear of failure.
Related Concept Videos
01:14Frustration and Conflict: Avoidance-Avoidance, Double-Approach Avoidance
Avoidance-avoidance conflict refers to a psychological situation where a person must choose between two or more unpleasant alternatives. These conflicts are particularly stressful because neither option is desirable. This dilemma is often expressed in sayings like "caught between a rock and a hard place" or "between the devil and the deep blue sea." For instance, individuals who fear dental procedures may find themselves torn between enduring a painful toothache or facing the anxiety of...
01:09Preparedness and Phobias
Human fear responses to certain stimuli, such as darkness, heights, deep water, and blood, can often arise despite the absence of direct negative experiences. This phenomenon is rooted in evolutionary psychology, which posits that humans have developed a predisposition to fear stimuli that historically posed significant survival threats. This predisposition, known as preparedness, suggests that early humans who developed a fear of potentially dangerous entities, such as venomous snakes and...
01:20Frustration and Conflict: Approach-Approach, Approach-Avoidance
Frustration occurs when people are obstructed or prevented from achieving a desired goal or fulfilling a perceived need. For example, when someone's input is ignored in a discussion, it can lead to feelings of frustration. Conflict, however, arises from opposing interests, goals, or actions. Conflicts can take various forms based on the nature of these opposing desires or goals.
One common type of conflict is the Approach–Approach Conflict. In this case, a person faces two desirable options,...
One common type of conflict is the Approach–Approach Conflict. In this case, a person faces two desirable options,...
02:09Stereotype Threat and Self-fulfilling Prophecies
When we hold a stereotype about a person, we have expectations that he or she will fulfill that stereotype. A self-fulfilling prophecy is an expectation held by a person that alters his or her behavior in a way that tends to make it true. When we hold stereotypes about a person, we tend to treat the person according to our expectations. This treatment can influence the person to act according to our stereotypic expectations, thus confirming our stereotypic beliefs. Research by Rosenthal and...
01:28Social Anxiety Disorder
Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, is characterized by an intense fear of social situations where one might face humiliation, rejection, embarrassment, or negative evaluation. This disorder leads individuals to avoid activities like casual conversations, public speaking, or seemingly simple tasks such as eating, signing documents, or swimming, in public settings. Its impact extends beyond discomfort, often significantly interfering with daily functioning and quality of life.
02:45Self-Discrepancy Theory
One influential perspective on what motivates people's behavior is detailed in Tory Higgin's self-discrepancy theory (Higgins, 1987). He proposed that people hold disagreeing internal representations of themselves that lead to different emotional states.