Self-presentation styles and Problematic use of Internet communicative services: the role of concerns over behavioral displays of imperfection

The current study had the dual purpose of identifying mechanisms and motives associated with perfectionistic self-presentation and evaluating these factors as mediator of the proposed link between perfectionistic self-presentation and problematic internet use. Specifically, the present study hypothesized that a self-presentation style characterized by the need to avoid displaying imperfections is associated with a Problematic use of Internet communicative services because communicating online rather than in person affords greater control over non verbal cues and the temporal flexibility associated with online communication. A sample of 200 university student participants completed measures assessing perfectionistic self-presentation, problematic internet use, and perceived controllable aspects of behaviours associated with relying on computer mediated communications (i.e., managing nonverbal displays and buying more time before having to respond). Analyses confirmed that those who systematically try to avoid revealing their supposed “less than perfect” behaviors or performance place great emphasis on the reduction of nonverbal cues and the temporal flexibility offered by the computer mediated interactions, which, in turn predicts a Problematic use of Internet communicative services. The findings are discussed in terms of how the current results are in keeping with assumptions about the nature of perfectionistic self-presentation as well as their implications for the perfectionism social disconnection model.