Perfectionism
Perfectionism is a pattern of setting or pursuing exceptionally high standards, often coupled with concern about mistakes, criticism, or evaluation.
Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale: A psychological questionnaire measuring distinct dimensions of perfectionistic standards and concerns. Its separate scales show why perfectionism is not a single trait.
Adaptive perfectionism: A proposed pattern of high standards pursued with flexibility and without excessive fear of mistakes. It contrasts demanding goals with the distress and rigidity often associated with perfectionism.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder: A mental disorder involving obsessions, compulsions, or both, that cause significant distress or impairment. Perfectionistic concerns can overlap with symptoms, but perfectionism alone is not OCD.
Alfred Adler: An Austrian physician and psychotherapist who founded individual psychology. Adler described striving for superiority, an early idea related to perfectionistic striving.
Cognitive behavioral therapy: A structured psychotherapy that changes unhelpful patterns of thinking and behavior. It can test perfectionistic rules through behavioral experiments and more balanced appraisals.
Self-criticism: The habit of evaluating oneself harshly, often focusing on perceived failures and shortcomings. Harsh self-evaluation can turn high standards into persistent distress.
Maladaptive perfectionism: A pattern of perfectionistic concerns linked to distress, harsh self-evaluation, or impaired functioning. This form highlights the costly side of striving for flawlessness.
Eating disorders: Mental disorders involving persistent disturbances in eating behavior and related thoughts or emotions. Perfectionistic concerns are associated with risk and difficulties in some eating disorders.
Donald Winnicott: A British pediatrician and psychoanalyst known for theories of development, play, and caregiving. His account of the compliant false self offers a psychoanalytic perspective on adapting to expectations.
Perfectionism-focused cognitive behavioral therapy: Cognitive behavioral treatment targeting perfectionistic standards, concerns, and maintaining behaviors. This treatment directly addresses rigid standards and fear of mistakes.