Perfectionists more prone to emotional, physical and relationship problems
See test at the end of the article.
Tue Jun 1, 5:59 PM ET
TORONTO (CP) - Everyone knows the old adage that nobody's perfect. But that doesn't stop a lot of people from being perfectionists - a personality trait that Canadian researchers say can lead to multiple health problems.
Gordon Flett, a professor of psychology at Toronto's York University, says perfectionists are under constant stress, making them prone to a host of emotional, physical and relationship problems, including depression, eating disorders, chronic pain syndrome, marital discord and even suicide.
Flett, co-author of several studies on perfectionism, said perfectionists not only hold unrealistically high standards, but also judge themselves or others as always falling short.
"Perfectionism is the need to be - or to appear - perfect," says Flett. "Perfectionists are persistent, detailed and organized high achievers.
"Perfectionists vary in their behaviours: some strive to conceal their imperfections; others attempt to project an image of perfection. But all perfectionists have in common extremely high standards for themselves or for others."
Flett and fellow psychology professor Paul Hewitt of the University of British Columbia, a long-term research collaborator, have developed a 45-item questionnaire to identify the three types of perfectionists: self-oriented (expect perfection of themselves); other-oriented (demand perfection from others); and socially prescribed (think others expect perfection from them).
Called the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, it is the first personality test that focuses specifically on the trait from a multi-dimensional perspective, Flett said in an interview Tuesday.
The scale was published this week by Toronto-based Multi-Health Systems Inc., which develops and delivers assessment and diagnostic products. It can be used by mental-health professionals, for example, to evaluate a person's level of perfectionism and whether it may be harmful. The scale could also be used by companies to profile potential employees and to steer them into jobs for which they are best-suited.
Flett said perfectionism can usually be traced to childhood and "could be a life-long pattern." In some cases, the trait arises from having a perfectionistic parent, with high expectations of themselves or others.
Today's children are particularly prone to perfectionism, in part because of societal and often parental pressure to be high achievers, he said. "But, of course, being in a culture where you're bombarded with images of the ideal person - whether it's in terms of behaviour or appearance - and picking up on those messages also plays a role."
And the trait can develop early, a 1994 experiment involving 30 preschoolers at a Toronto computer camp showed. The researchers asked the children, aged four and five, questions to try to determine perfectionism levels, then gave the kids a computer task that was rigged to not work.
The highly perfectionistic children identified in the group showed greater signs of extreme distress, such as elevated anger and anxiety, Flett said.
He suggests parents need to reassure children that they are liked or loved for themselves, not because of how well they perform a certain task.
For those who want to abandon perfectionism - recognizing that it's unhealthy - Flett suggests honestly assessing the behaviour and asking: "Is this working for me?"
But he said it's often difficult for perfectionists to change because the very behaviour that can be harmful to health can also "bring about big rewards" because it can lead to life and career accomplishments.
"Everybody acknowledges that nobody's perfect," Flett mused, "but still people are trying to be that one person."
Are you a perfectionist? Gordon Flett, a Toronto psychology professor who specializes in studying perfectionism, has devised a list of telltale signs:
1. You can't stop thinking about a mistake you made.
2. You are intensely competitive and can't stand doing worse than others.
3. You either want to do something "just right" or not at all.
4. You demand perfection from other people.
5. You won't ask for help if asking can be perceived as a flaw or weakness.
6. You will persist at a task long after other people have quit.
7. You are a fault-finder who must correct other people when they are wrong.
8. You are highly aware of other people's demands and expectations.
9. You are very self-conscious about making mistakes in front of other people.
10. You noticed the error in the headline.
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