Numerous studies have observed that self-oriented and other-oriented romantic perfectionism are negatively correlated with relationship satisfaction. Self-oriented perfectionism and other-oriented romantic perfectionism refer to the tendencies (in a romantic relationship) to set excessively high standards for oneself and one’s partner, respectively. The psychological process underlying these two types of perfectionism and the effect of those processes on the individual warrant consideration. Romantic perfectionism tends to provide individuals with a unique internal working model (IWM) and cognitive process that may affect their perception of external situational information. Consideration of whether romantic perfectionism affects a couple’s perceptions of interpersonal behavior, thereby predicting relationship satisfaction, is also necessary. On the basis of past research, perfectionism can be divided into two types, namely a general perfectionist trait and a domain-specific perfectionism. Discussions on the general trait of perfectionism have emphasized that perfectionism is a universal personal trait that exists across contexts. Domain-specific perfectionism refers to a perfectionism that is focused on a particular domain, such as romantic relationships. Domain-specific perfectionism is a demonstration of personal traits in relational interaction and context. In summary, when measuring perfectionism, the distinct relationship and situation must be considered, presenting various connotations for the measurement. In the domain of a romantic relationship, the term “dyadic perfectionism” or “romantic perfectionism” is discussed. Each partner’s perceived interpersonal behavior may exert a c rucial role in determining the effect of romantic perfectionism on relationship quality. The IWM of perfectionism acquired from the parent–child attachment relationship during childhood provides the individual with a unique cognitive process with which to perceive the couple’s interpersonal behavior. This study uses the Structural Analysis of Social Behavior (SASB) model to assess perceptions of partners´ interpersonal behavior in romantic relationships, including affirmations of autonomy, care for the affiliation, ignorance of personal attacks, and assuming control. The SASB model holds that interpersonal behavior can be divided into two dimensions: affiliation and interdependence. Affiliation refers to the two opposing behaviors of love and hate and emphasizes the need for individuals to maintain proximity in the dynamics of interpersonal behavior. Interdependence refers to the two opposing behaviors of control and autonomy, emphasizing the individual´s desire for autonomy and self-worth.

The purpose of this study was to explore whether the perceptions of a partner´s interpersonal behavior have a mediating effect on the association between romantic perfectionism and relationship satisfaction. To do so, we developed the following hypotheses. 

Hypothesis 1-1 : Other-oriented perfectionism would have a negative association with relationship satisfaction.

Hypothesis 1-2: Self-oriented perfectionism would have a negative association with relationship satisfaction.

Hypothesis 2: Perception of a partner´s interpersonal behavior would have a mediating effect on the correlation between romantic perfectionism and relationship satisfaction.

The research objects were heterosexual college students in Taiwan who reported being in a romantic relationship. A total of 440 valid questionnaires were collected from 62 men (14.1%) and 378 women (85.9%); the average age of the participants was 22.51 years and the average relationship duration was 22.8 months. In the questionnaire issued to the participants, the Romantic Relationship Perfectionism Scale (Chinese version), Perception of Partner´s Interpersonal Behavior Scale, and Relationship Assessment Scale were applied.

The following four research conclusions were drawn. First, in the association of relationship satisfaction with romantic perfectionism, perception of partner’s interpersonal behaviors, such as affirmations of autonomy and care for the affiliation, had mediating effects. The results also revealed that in the cases of both self-oriented or other-oriented perfectionism, individuals who perceive less interpersonal behaviors such as affirmations of autonomy and care for the affiliation in their partner experience less satisfaction in the romantic relationship. Both self-oriented or partner-oriented romantic perfectionism makes perceiving positive interpersonal behaviors in a partner more difficult. However, romantic perfectionism may make individuals more sensitive to interpersonal behaviors such as whether they are loved and whether the partner provides them with autonomy and an emotional connection.

Second, in romantic relationships, investigating the perception of interpersonal behavior is crucial. Such perceptions may be influenced by romantic perfectionism, which can cause individuals to overlook positive interpersonal behaviors. Specifically, other-oriented perfectionism can make individuals more sensitive to the partner’s personal attacks. The evaluation of how partners perceive each other’s interpersonal behavior may be crucial in couples therapy.

Third, self-oriented and other-oriented perfectionism may differ in their effects on perceptions of interpersonal behavior. Both types of perfectionism can make individuals less likely to perceive their partner’s affirmations of autonomy and care for the affiliation and are associated with lower relationship satisfaction. Other-oriented perfectionism is also associated with lower relationship satisfaction, and perceptions of partners’ interpersonal behavior (e.g., ignoring personal attacks) have a mediating effect on the association between romantic perfectionism and relationship satisfaction. Both other-oriented and self-oriented perfectionism can promote unique perceptions of partners’ interpersonal behavior among individuals involved in romantic relationships. However, the psychological function of other-oriented perfectionism may differ from that of self-oriented perfectionism. Other-oriented romantic perfectionism is more likely to make an individual more sensitive to personal attacks from the partner, which is associated with lower relationship satisfaction. This suggests that the psychological function of selforiented romantic perfectionism prompts individuals to care more about whether they are loved. By contrast, the psychological function of other-oriented perfectionism in romantic relationships prompts individuals to care about not only whether they are loved but also whether they are being harmed.

Finally, other-oriented romantic perfectionism may have a more noteworthy influence on romantic relationships. This study has several limitations that warrant discussion. Most previous studies on romantic perfectionism have reported that other-oriented perfectionism is negatively correlated with relationship satisfaction or quality, and the results of the present study support this. However, in the present study, we discovered a minor negative correlation between self-oriented perfectionism and relationship satisfaction. We also demonstrated that compared with self-oriented perfectionism, other-oriented perfectionism may have a stronger association with relationship satisfaction.

Previous studies on the influence of perfectionism on romantic relationships have often reported inconsistent results. Some studies have demonstrated a negative correlation between self-oriented perfectionism and relationship quality or relationship satisfaction, whereas other studies have indicated no significant correlation, or even a positive correlation, between self-oriented perfectionism and relationship quality or satisfaction,. The most likely reason for these inconsistencies is that these studies did not investigate a domain-specific perfectionism and seldom used romantic relationships as the measurement context. When selforiented perfectionism is measured in domain-specific perfectionism, its influence on relationship satisfaction may be less than that of other-oriented perfectionism. This also indicates that other-oriented perfectionism may have a more notable influence on relationships generally.

The results of this research may be useful in couples therapy or emotional education. Assessment of the influence of perfectionism on partners engaged in a romantic relationship suggests that individuals with excessively strict perfectionism requirements or expectations for their partners must undergo an adjustment that can help them develop a more intimate relationship. Romantic perfectionism has a unique IWM, with such perfectionism affecting how individuals perceive their partners’ interpersonal behavior. Excessive expectations and requirements of a partner may make an individual overlook the partner´s positive interpersonal behaviors and focus on their negative behaviors. Thus, such individuals cause their own suffering while in love. We hope that more studies exploring the influence of romantic perfectionism and partners´ perceived interpersonal behavior in romantic relationships will be conducted in the future.