![]() ![]() By doing everything perfectly, they hope to avoid punishment or earn the love of a rejecting parent. Those who experience trauma, neglect or abuse often believe that they did something to deserve such treatment and must compensate by behaving perfectly. They may have been shamed for making minor mistakes, or may have taken on adult responsibilities at an early age when they lacked the appropriate skills. Self-oriented perfectionists have internalized high standards, often as a result of messages they received as children. Psychiatrist David Burns defines perfectionists as those people who have high standards “beyond reach or reason” and “who strain compulsively and unremittingly toward impossible goals.”Psychologists Paul Hewitt and Gordon Flett identify three main types of perfectionism: self-oriented, other-oriented, and socially prescribed. offer a comprehensive discussion of perfectionism and therapeutic strategies. In their book, When Perfect Isn’t Good Enough, Martin M. Perfectionism is not a psychiatric diagnosis, but perfectionist thinking does play a role in several diagnoses, including depression, anxiety disorders, excessive anger, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, and many relationship problems. ![]() ![]() Perfectly Miserable LukeNotes, Winter 2009 ![]()
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