perfectionism

Perfectionism is a personality trait characterized by setting excessively high standards, critical self-evaluation, and concerns about making mistakes. It can be conceived as a multidimensional construct with at least two broad components: striving for perfection or high personal standards, and evaluative concerns such as fear of failure and harsh self-criticism. Some research distinguishes adaptive or healthy perfectionism from maladaptive or rigid perfectionism, where the pursuit of flawlessness interferes with functioning.

Origins and correlates: Perfectionism is associated with temperamental factors such as negative affect, and with environmental factors including parental expectations, early experiences of conditional love, and cultural pressures to achieve. It often co-occurs with anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive tendencies, eating disorders, or performance-related disorders, though it is not itself a disorder in most individuals. The impact of perfectionism varies by context; it may drive achievement but can also lead to procrastination, avoidance, burnout, and self-criticism when standards are unmet.

Assessment and management: Clinical and research assessments use self-report scales and structured interviews to measure dimensions such as self-oriented, other-oriented, and socially prescribed perfectionism. Validity and reliability of measures differ across populations. When maladaptive perfectionism causes distress or impairment, treatments such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and mindfulness-based approaches can help by reframing beliefs about mistakes, reducing avoidance, and promoting self-compassion and flexible goal setting.