Author Type

Graduate Student

Date of Award

Spring 4-22-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Status

Version of Record

Submission Date

May 2026

Department

Psychology

College Granting Degree

Charles E. Schmidt College of Science

Department Granting Degree

Psychology

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Michael R. Maniaci

Abstract

Two studies examined the associations between relationship self-sabotage (RSS) and dyadic perfectionism, as well as the impact of a relationship threat manipulation on RSS. We also assessed whether dyadic perfectionism moderates the association between experimental condition and RSS. We recruited undergraduate student participants who answered self-report questionnaires about dyadic perfectionism, self-esteem, and RSS in Study 1. Other-oriented dyadic perfectionism was significantly positively correlated with the RSS subscales in both studies. Participants in Study 2 were randomly placed in one of two groups. One group underwent a threat manipulation; the other group did not. We expected that experimental participants would have higher scores on the RSS items compared to participants in the control group. We found that only the Defensiveness subscale of the RSS scale increased in response to the threat manipulation. Dyadic perfectionism did not moderate the association between the experimental condition and RSS.

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