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  • Perfectionism: Etiology, Diagnosis, Treatment

    • Perfectionism: Etiology, Diagnosis, Treatment

    Moderate Concept Summary: Perfectionism, Causes, and Treatments

    ED 304: Ed Psych and Human Development

    Author: Rachel Hardy & Grace Bagley

    Validated by: Emily Walton

    Disclosure: ChatGPT3 was used in the creation of this resource.

    Summary

    Perfectionism is a personality trait characterized by an excessive need for order, precision, and achievement. This can manifest in various ways, such as setting impossibly high standards for yourself, being overly critical of yourself and others, and experiencing difficulty relaxing or enjoying your accomplishments. Perfectionism is a complex trait that can be influenced by a variety of factors, including genetics, environmental factors, and cognitive processes.

    Causes

    One of the main causes of perfectionism is thought to be the development of patterns of thinking that are formed in childhood and reinforced throughout one's life. These patterns can include beliefs such as "I must be perfect to be accepted" or "I must be in control at all times." Environmental factors such as parental expectations, traumatic experiences, and societal pressures can also contribute to the development of perfectionism.

    Healthy vs. Unhealthy

    There are two main types of perfectionism behaviors: Healthy Perfectionism behavior and Unhealthy Perfectionism behavior. Healthy Perfectionism behaviors can motivate us to achieve goals, individual success, and personal excellence. This allows us to focus on things and people that we value. People with healthy perfectionism behaviors enjoy working hard, and in so doing, they have the freedom to move freely to do what they want. Unhealthy Perfectionism behaviors are controlled by fear, discomfort, low self-esteem, and too high of standards. These behaviors are motivated by what a person wants to get away from. These unhealthy behaviors are a way of trying to protect one's self from experiencing those uncomfortable feelings again.

    What it looks like. . .

    Healthy Perfectionism Behaviors:

    • Goal-oriented
    • Hard working
    • High levels of confidence and self-esteem 
    • Intrinsically motivated
    • Look for any opportunities to learn something new
    • Accepts and learns from mistakes
    • Seeking constant improvement 

    Unhealthy Perfectionism Behaviors:

    • Extrinsically motivated by things such as fear
    • Unrealistic standards and expectations 
    • Uncomfortable with mistakes and failures
    • Tries to do things 100% right on the first try
    • Low self-esteem 

    Treatment

    Treatment options for perfectionism include cognitive-behavioral therapy, which aims to change maladaptive thought patterns and behaviors, and acceptance and commitment therapy, which focuses on accepting imperfections and learning to focus on one's values and goals. Mindfulness-based interventions, such as meditation, can also help reduce perfectionism by helping individuals become more aware of their thoughts and feelings, and let go of negative self-evaluations.

    Classroom Strategies to help students overcome Perfectionism 

    - "That's a Juicy mistake" Letting students be wrong, and let them see the benefit of that. 

    - Purposefully don't let students finish their work on time, this teaches them to be okay with work that is not perfect or complete. Let them sit in that discomfort. 

    - Help students set attainable and realistic goals.

    - Address perfectionism as a class and be clear that it is expected that students make mistakes. 

    Importance for Teachers

    As a teacher, you will inevitably have students who are perfectionists. Knowing how to understand, help, and work with them to complete their work, as well as overcome their perfectionism mindset is a skill that is necessary for a teacher. Understanding perfectionism is also important because as a teacher, you will make many mistakes and there will be things that are out of your control. You need to know how to cope with them and work around them so you can be available for your students. 

    Additional Reading and Research 

     

    Perfectionist Quiz - There are many similar quizzes to this one, but it is sometimes helpful to see where you stand when it comes to perfectionism.

    The Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) website (https://www.abct.org/) offers several resources on perfectionism, including articles, brochures, and information on finding a therapist who specializes in treating perfectionism.

    Psychology Today: Perfectionism.

    Books are an excellent source to understand the concept and how to overcome perfectionism in everyday life.

    The Perfectionism Workbook" by Thomas A. Greenspon,

    "The Perfectionist's Handbook: Take Risks, Invite Criticism, and Make the Most of Your Mistakes" by Jeff Szymanski

    "The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are" by Brené 

    Which of the following is an example of healthy perfectionist behavior?

    1. Making decisions based on fear
    2. Accomplishing goals that encourage self-improvement
    3. Setting high goals that are not attainable
    4. Doing work to avoid discomfort

    How can people become perfectionists or develop perfectionist behaviors? Select all that apply.

    1. By being exposed to excessively high expectations from parents or authority figures.
    2. By experiencing traumatic events or abuse in childhood.
    3. By being exposed to societal pressure to be perfect.
    4. By inheriting a genetic predisposition to perfectionism.

    Sources

    This content is provided to you freely by BYU-I Books.

    Access it online or download it at https://books.byui.edu/development_motivati/mod_103_perfectionis.