Perfectionism is a type of behavior characterized by the desire to perform all tasks in a perfect way, without admitting errors or unsatisfactory results for your standard. The perfectionist person usually has a high standard of demand on himself and on others.
Perfectionism can be classified into:
- Normal, adaptive or healthy, when the person has motivation and determination to perform tasks well; Neurotic, mal-adaptive or harmful, in which the person has a very high standard of perfection, and it is often necessary to perform the same task several times because he thinks he is not perfect, and can generate frustration.
Although the perfectionist does not accept mistakes and, when they happen, they feel frustrated, incapable, distressed or depressed, being a perfectionist is not necessarily a bad thing. Because he always wants to perform his tasks perfectly, the perfectionist is usually very focused, disciplined and determined, which are important characteristics for his personal and professional life.
Main features
Perfectionist people usually pay close attention to detail, 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 interfere with personal and professional life. However, when these characteristics are accompanied by high standards of demand and exacerbated self-criticism, it can generate feelings of frustration and depression.
Other characteristics of the perfectionist are:
- A lot of responsibility and determination; High level of demand with you and with others; Do not admit mistakes and failures, having difficulties to accept that you made a mistake and learn from it, in addition to feeling guilt and shame; They feel difficult to work in groups, since they cannot believe in the ability of the other; always think something is missing, never being satisfied with the result obtained; does not accept criticism very well, but usually criticizes others to demonstrate that it is better.
Perfectionist people are very afraid of failing, so they are constantly concerned with things and set a very high standard of charging, so when there is any failure or error, even a small one, they end up frustrated and with the feeling of inability.
Types of perfectionism
In addition to being classified as healthy or harmful, perfectionism can also be classified according to the factors that influenced its development:
- Personal perfectionism, in which the person charges himself a lot, showing a behavior of excessive concern so that everything is perfect. This type of perfectionism concerns the way a person sees himself, it is exacerbated self-criticism; Social perfectionism, which is triggered by the fear of how it will be interpreted and recognized by people and the fear of failing and being rejected, and this type of perfectionism is often triggered in children who have been highly demanded, praised or rejected. of the child being accepted by the parents, for example. In addition, in social perfectionism, the person has difficulty speaking or interacting with others about their fears or insecurities precisely because of the fear of judgment. Targeted perfectionism, in which the person has a lot of expectations not only about themselves, but also about others, which makes teamwork difficult and adapting to other situations, 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 performing any task becomes exhausting and stressful due to the high standard of collection, excessive concern with details and the fear of failure. In addition, the fact of 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 have self-criticism very much present, which can be very harmful, since they are unable to evaluate the positive aspects, only the negative ones, resulting in mood disorders. This is not only reflected in the performance of daily tasks, but also in physical aspects, which can result in eating disorders, for example, since the person thinks that there is always something to improve in the body or in appearance, without taking into account account the positive aspects.
