Ray Williams defines perfectionism, outlines its various types, and compiles resources for learning more about the many aspects of perfectionism, including its damaging effects and what to do about it.
As a culture, we tend to reward perfectionists for their insistence on setting high standards and relentless drive to meet those standards. And perfectionists frequently are high achievers – but the price they pay for success can be chronic unhappiness and dissatisfaction. – Carolyn Gregoire
Psychologist David Burns warns in a 1980 Psychology Today essay:
Reaching for the stars, perfectionists may end up clutching at air. [Perfectionists] are especially given to troubled relationships and mood disorders.
Definitions
Perfectionism is:
A personality trait characterized by a person’s striving for flawlessness and setting high-performance standards, accompanied by critical self-evaluations and concerns regarding others’ evaluations. It is best conceptualized as a multidimensional characteristic, as psychologists agree that there are many positive and negative aspects. In its maladaptive form, perfectionism drives people to attempt to achieve unattainable ideals or unrealistic goals, often leading to depression and low self-esteem. By contrast, adaptive perfectionism can motivate people to reach their goals and to derive pleasure from doing so.
