Location
Slaney, R.B., Rice, K.G., Mobley, M., Trippi, J., & Ashby, J.S. (2001). The Almost Perfect Scale /C0Revised.
Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development ,34, 130/C0145.
Results and Comments
The APS-R distinguishes between adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism. The measure has some overt
unique features and item content that distinguish it from the FMPS and HFMPS (one clear difference is that the
word ‘perfect’ never actually appears in the APS-R item content). The high standards subscale may assess a less
extreme form of perfectionism that is more akin to excellence striving because it is evident that certain APS-R
items could be more extreme in their focus (e.g., I have high expectations for myself. I have a strong need to
strive for excellence). Indeed, Slaney et al. (2001) reported that the high standards subscale had a more positive
association with self-esteem than did the FMPS personal standards and the HFMPS self-oriented perfectionism
subscales. Similarly, Stairs et al. (2012) reported that the APS-R high standards subscale, despite being linked
robustly with the corresponding FMPS and HFMPS subscales, has a much smaller association with reactivity to
mistakes. Moreover, the APS-R high standards subscale is linked positively with a measure of satisfaction but is
not associated with dissatisfaction, but both self-oriented perfectionism and personal standards perfectionism are
linked jointly and simultaneously with indices of satisfaction and dissatisfaction.
Clearly, a key contribution of the APS-R is its emphasis on discrepancies. A significant issue for the next gen-
eration of perfectionism research is to consider discrepancy from a broader construct validation perspective. Is it
best considered an element of the perfectionism construct or is it more representative of a form of self-evaluation
and a self-evaluation continuum rather than perfectionism per se ?
Finally, it should be noted that Rice, Richardson, and Tueller (2014) have developed brief 4-item subscale mea-
sures of standards and discrepancy. The four items in each subscale that comprise this promising measure are
asterisked below.
ALMOST PERFECT SCALE /C0REVISED
Instructions: The following items are designed to measure certain attitudes people have toward themselves, their
performance, and toward others. It is important that your answers be true and accurate for you. In the space next to
the statement, please enter a number from ‘1’ (strongly disagree) to ‘7’ (strongly agree) to describe your degree of
agreement with each item.
1234 5 6 7
Strongly Disagree Slightly Neutral Slightly Agree Strongly
disagree disagree agree disagree
____1. I have high standards for my performance at work or at school.
____2. I am an orderly person.
____3. I often feel frustrated because I can’t meet my goals.
____4. Neatness is important to me.
____5. If you don’t expect much out of yourself you will never succeed.
____6. My best just never seems to be good enough for me.
____7. I think things should be put away in their place.
____8. I have high expectations for myself.*
____9. I rarely live up to my high standards.
____10. I like to always be organized and disciplined.
____11. Doing my best never seems to be enough.*
____12. I set very high standards for myself.*
____13. I am never satisfied with my accomplishments.
____14. I expect the best from myself.*
____15. I often worry about not measuring up to my own expectations.
____16. My performance rarely measures up to my standards.*
____17. I am not satisfied even when I know I have done my best.607 OVERVIEW OF THE MEASURES
V. VICES AND VIRTUES