Perfectionism is a type of behavior characterized by the desire to perform all tasks perfectly, not admitting errors or results that are not satisfactory for your standard. A perfectionist person typically holds high standards for themselves and others.
A perfectionist person tends to have selective attention to mistakes, that is, they tend to focus only on what is wrong instead of what is right, causing them to constantly correct small details that they can identify as “poorly done”. Pathological perfectionism is associated with higher levels of depressive and anxiety symptoms. Furthermore, it is a factor in the development of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
Perfectionism can be classified into:
- Normal, adaptive or healthywhen the person has motivation and determination to carry out tasks well;
- Maladaptive or harmfulin which the person has a very high standard of perfection, often having to perform the same task several times because they believe it is not perfect, which can generate frustration.
The concept of perfection is something difficult to achieve in everyday life and, therefore, people have a certain degree of tolerance for frustration when something doesn’t go as planned. However, the perfectionist will look for the smallest details so that everything goes according to plan and, if this does not happen, it can lead to the development of excessive negative feelings.
Main features
Perfectionist people usually pay close attention to details, are extremely organized and focused, seeking to carry out tasks with the minimum possibility of error. These characteristics are considered normal and even healthy for all people, as they positively affect their personal and professional lives. However, when these characteristics are accompanied by a high standard of demands and exacerbated self-criticism, it can generate feelings of frustration and depression.
Other characteristics of the perfectionist person are:
- Excessive responsibility and determination;
- High level of demands on yourself and others;
- They do not admit mistakes and failures, having difficulty accepting that they made mistakes and learning from it, in addition to feeling guilt and shame;
- They find it difficult to work in groups, as they cannot believe in the other’s abilities;
- They always think that something is missing, never being satisfied with the result obtained;
- Does not accept criticism very well, but tends to criticize others to demonstrate that she is better;
- See error as failure;
- Doubt the quality of the work performed.
Perfectionist people are very afraid of failing, so they constantly worry about things and set a very high standard and, therefore, when there is any failure or error, even if small, they end up feeling frustrated and feeling incapable. .
Types of perfectionism
Perfectionism can be classified according to the factors that influenced its development:
- Personal perfectionism, in which the person demands a lot of themselves, demonstrating behavior of excessive concern for everything to be perfect. This type of perfectionism concerns the way a person sees themselves, it is exacerbated self-criticism;
- Social perfectionisml, which is triggered by the fear of how it will be interpreted and recognized by people and the fear of failing and being rejected, this type of perfectionism is often triggered in children who have been highly demanded, praised or rejected, this being a form of the child being accepted by parents, for example. Furthermore, in social perfectionism, the person has difficulty talking or interacting with other people about their fears or insecurities precisely because of the fear of judgment.
- Targeted perfectionismin which the person has a lot of expectations not only about themselves, but also about others, which makes teamwork and adaptation to other situations difficult, for example.
Perfectionism can also be a consequence of psychological disorders, such as anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), for example.
When does perfectionism become a problem?
Perfectionism can become a problem when carrying out any task becomes exhausting and stressful due to high standards, excessive concern with details and the fear of failure. Furthermore, never being satisfied with the results obtained can generate feelings of anguish, frustration, anxiety and even depression, which in some cases can result in suicidal thoughts.
Perfectionist people tend to be very self-critical, which can be very harmful, as they cannot evaluate the positive aspects, only the negative ones, resulting in mood disorders. This not only affects the performance of daily tasks, but also physical aspects, which can result in eating disorders, for example, as the person thinks there is always something to improve in their body or appearance, without taking into account consider the positive aspects.
How the treatment is carried out
Treatment for perfectionism must be guided by a psychologist through cognitive-behavioral therapy. In more serious cases, it may be necessary to use medication, which must be prescribed by a psychiatrist, such as anxiolytics or antidepressants, with the aim of relieving symptoms and improving the person’s quality of life.
Bibliography
- ROSA, Lorraine; VALLEY, Ariel D.; RUTSZTEIN, William; KEEGAN, Edward. Perfectionism and Self-Criticism: Clinical Considerations. Argentine Journal of Psychological Clinic. Vol 21. 209-221, 2012
- FREITAS, Clémence E. Perfectionism, self-concept and psychopathological symptoms in higher education students. Master’s Thesis, 2011. University of Beira Interior.
- CASTRO, Juliana S. Perfectionism, emotional regulation and psychological disturbance. Master’s Thesis, 2013. Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra.
