“Healthy Perfectionism” is an Oxymoron!: Reflections on the Psychology of Perfectionism and the Sociology of Science
- 1 February 2000
- journal article
- research article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Journal of Secondary Gifted Education
- Vol. 11 (4), 197-208
- https://doi.org/10.4219/jsge-2000-631
Abstract
Perfectionism, with its harshly negative self-talk, is felt to be a burden by most people who experience it. Despite this, a body of literature asserts that some perfectionism is healthy, even though a critical review of this literature finds no factual or theoretical basis for such a claim. The commonly asserted belief in a dichotomy between healthy and dysfunctional perfectionism is based on a misunderstanding of the nature of perfectionism, in part confusing the concept with striving for excellence, and has apparently arisen from uncritical acceptance of early work on the subject. Perfectionism is discussed as an interpersonal and intersubjective phenomenon, involving the perfectionist's experience of other people's expectations and judgments. Implications for treatment are discussed.Keywords
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