Figure Copy Task
Stimuli for the Figure Copy Task were developed by generating a large number of shapes and figures,
with a subset selected for use (see Table 2). Selection was determined by consideration of previous
copy or memory tasks such as the Memory for Designs Test (Graham & Kendall, 1960) and
the Rey Complex Figure Test (Meyers & Meyers, 1995). Within each set, figures were of roughly equal
difficulty, but difficulty increased from Set 1 to Set 3 to cater for practice effects.1
The Figure Copy Task involved asking children to copy sets of figures from stimulus booklets as
accurately as possible over three separate 1-min periods. To activate evaluative threat, children were
informed that (a) their results would be scored based on how similar their copy was to the original, (b)
their results would be compared with those of their peers, and (c) the test would be timed using a
stopwatch. Children were given four sharpened pencils, an eraser, and two rulers to use as they desired
to copy the pictures in a separate booklet. The stimuli used during the task are shown in Table 2.
Parental rearing experimental manipulation. Fig. 1 illustrates the experimental design. Phase 1 was designed
to provide a pre-parental rearing experimental manipulation measure of children’s perfectionistic
behavior. During Phase 2, children were randomized into one of two conditions: (a) high levels of
perfectionistic rearing or (b) non-perfectionistic rearing. In the perfectionistic rearing condition, mothers
were instructed to implement perfectionistic rearing behaviors outlined by Flett and colleagues
(2002) such as focusing on mistakes and the negative consequences of mistakes and overprotection
from mistakes through verbal and non-verbal behaviors during the copy task. In the non-perfectionistic
rearing condition, mothers were instructed not to focus on their children’s mistakes or the negative
consequences of mistakes. Parents in this condition were advised to display a relaxed and calm