Self-Determination Theory: Factors That Influences The Burnout Process
This research is steered by self-determination theory (SDT) developed by Deci and Ryan (1985) as it offers useful means of identifying antecedents of burnout. One factor that influences the burnout process described by SDT is perfectionism (Deci & Ryan, 1985). Due to perfectionistic individuals have exceptionally high standards and irrational beliefs for success, these characteristics are likely to lead to criticism, ruminative, self-focusing and personal incompetence when the end results do not comply with desired targets (Aghdasi, 2014). This in turn increases the risk of burnout due to not fulfilling the expected goals of one’s performance. Accordingly, the most prevalent and widely researched model of perfectionism is Hewitt and Flett’s
(1991) model of multidimensional perfectionism. According to the authors, the three forms of perfectionism are:
(a) Self-oriented perfectionism - having unrealistic standards, tends to overly focus on flaws and avoids failure
b) other-oriented perfectionism - unrealistic standards and expectations about the abilities of others and overly evaluative of others’ performance and lastly
c) socially-prescribed perfectionism - believing others have perfectionist expectations and motives about them and feels these standards must be attained.
(1991) model of multidimensional perfectionism. According to the authors, the three forms of perfectionism are:
(a) Self-oriented perfectionism - having unrealistic standards, tends to overly focus on flaws and avoids failure
b) other-oriented perfectionism - unrealistic standards and expectations about the abilities of others and overly evaluative of others’ performance and lastly
c) socially-prescribed perfectionism - believing others have perfectionist expectations and motives about them and feels these standards must be attained.