Unveiling Workplace Deviance: The Interplay of Self-critical Perfectionism, Anxiety and Fear of Failure

Drawing on Perkun’s control-value theory of emotion, this study explores the link between self-critical perfectionism and deviant workplace behaviours, focusing on fear of failure and anxiety as influencing factors. While prior research on this topic emphasised interpersonal factors, this study delves into the intrapersonal aspects of self-critical perfectionism. Data were collected from 237 marketing and customer relationship employees in India. Structured equation modelling revealed that self-critical perfectionism was significantly positively associated with fear of failure and anxiety, which, in turn, contributed to the emergence of negative deviant behaviours. The direct effect of self-critical perfectionism on deviant behaviours was fully mediated by anxiety and fear of failure. These findings emphasise the importance of addressing self-critical perfectionism, particularly in conjunction with fear of failure and anxiety, to mitigate workplace deviance. Proactive involvement from teams, leadership and management plays a critical role in driving effective intervention.