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PerfectlyImperfectCydneyLebovitz~ONSAP2016

PerfectionismDefined

• “enduring,global,multidimensionalpersonalitytrait”(Hewitt&Flett,1991)• Centralfeatureisthesettingofexcessivelyhighperformancestandardsinconjunctionwitha

tendencytomakeoverlycriticalself-evaluations• Setandholdrigidtounrealisticstandardsforthemselvesandothers• Attendselectivelytofailureexperiences• Engageinallornothingthinking;theonlyoutcomepossibilitiesaretotalsuccessortotalfailure

Hamacheck(1978):NormalandNeuroticperfectionism

• Suggestedthatnormalperfectionistsemphasizetheneedtoachievehighpersonalstandardsandadesiretoexcelinperformance

• NeuroticperfectionistsexperienceanxietyandfearfailureSladeandOwens(1998):PositiveandNegativePerfectionism

• Positive(adaptive)Perfectionismischaracterizedasnormal,adaptive,orhealthy• Negative(maladaptive)perfectionismisunhealthyandcanbepathological

AdlerWouldhavesaidthatperfectionismisessentiallystrivingforsuperiorityandisneurotic.Depictedby:

• Constantstriving• Circularthinking• Insatiabledrive• Quitesimply“nothingisperfectandthedesirefortheimpossibleismaladaptive”

SocialInterest• Anindividual'sattitudetowardandawarenessofbeingapartofthehumancommunity• Mentalhealthismeasuredbythedegreetowhichwesuccessfullysharewithothersandare

concernedwiththeirwelfare• Happinessandsuccessarelargelyrelatedtosocialconnectedness

Frostetal.,(1993)Clarifiedthedifference:

• Maladaptiveperfectionismgenerallyassociatedwithdissatisfaction,highlevelsofsociallydictatedstandards,fearoffailure,andmaladaptiveevaluationapprehensivenesssuchasconcernovermistakesanddoubtsaboutactions

o haveatendencytoperceivemorestressintheirlivesandendorsemorerigid,inflexible,anddichotomousviewsofpeople,issues,andthemselves

• Adaptiveperfectionismisgenerallyrelatedtohighlevelsoforganization,aself-orientedfocus,highpersonalstandardsandsatisfactionwithgoalachievement

o Havehigherself-esteem,higherself-confidence,anddemonstratebetteremotionaladjustmentandabilitytocopewithstress

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Hewitt&Flett(1991):3dimensionsofPerfectionism• Self-OrientedPerfectionism:settingexcessivelyhighstandardsandmotivationtoward

perfectionforoneselfo Consideredpositiveoradaptiveo Associatedresourcefulness,assertivenessandconscientiousnesso Considerintrinsicmotivation,enhancedself-esteemandmotivationtosucceedo Feelingsofcontrolandmastery

• SociallyPrescribedPerfectionism:characterizedbystrivingforexcessivelyhighstandardsperceivedtobesetbyothers)

o Considerednegativeormaladaptiveo Associatedwithprocrastination,depression,suicideideation,lowerself-esteem,

anxiety,lowpersonalcontrolandshameo Considerextrinsicmotivation,self-critical,excessiveconcernovermistakes

• Other-OrientedPerfectionism:holdingexcessivelyhighstandardsandexpectationsofothersMeasuresofPerfectionism

• MultidimensionalPerfectionismScale(Frostetal.,1990)o Measuresbothadaptiveandmaladaptivedimensionsandincludes5scales

§ PersonalStandards(adaptive)§ ParentalExpectations(adaptive)§ ConcernOverMistakes(maladaptive)§ DoubtsAboutActions(maladaptive)§ ParentalCriticism(maladaptive)

• MultidimensionalPerfectionismScale(Hewitt&Flett,1991)o Takesamoreinterpersonalperspectiveandassesses3dimensionsofperfectionism

ThePathologyofPerfectionism–theBIG3

1. Depression2. Anxiety3. EatingDisorders

PerfectionisticqualitiesinthePerformanceDomain“theneedtoperforminanexcellentmannerandattainsatisfactionandasenseofprideisnotperfectionism”(FlettandHewitt,2006)

• Positiveandadaptiveperfectionismassociatedwithachievementofgoalsandconfidenceinsport

• Healthyperfectionismcorrelatedwithhighpersonalstandardsalongwithlowconcernovermistakes,parentalcriticism,anddoubtsingiftedchildren

PerformancePerfection(Mainwaring,2009)“performerswhostriveforperfectionbutdonotnecessarilypresentwithpathology”

• Mainwaringfeelsthatthoughthedescriptors“healthy,positiveandadaptive”designatepositivefunctioning,theystillimplythatpathologyispresent

• Shefeelsthatgoal-directedbehaviour,strivingforself-enhancement,andmotivationforproficientexecutionofskilledperformancearepositiveandappropriatepursuitswhenconsideringhigh-performancedomainsoffunctioning

• Butthisbegsthequestion…arelevelsofsuchhighperformancehealthyinthefirstplace?

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WorkingwithPerfectionisticClientsinthePerformanceDomain

• Goalassessment:isthegoalrealisticandthedesirenotdrivenbypathology?• Appropriateness:istheclient’sneedforperfectionappropriateinthegivensituation?Assistin

reshapingthoughts,feelingsgoals,orexpectations(CBTstyle)• Clinicalvs.Performance-focusedapproach:isthepursuitofanidealperformanceaccompanied

byunrealisticexpectations,overlycriticalself-evaluations,anxietyoraninabilitytolearnfromexperiences?

• Performance-relatedconcernsmayrevealmorecomplex,clinicalchallengesandmayrequirepsychotherapeutic-orientedinterventions.Determinewhetherclient’sissuesarisefromapersonalityrootedinperfectionism

• Perfectionistsexpectmuchfromtheirtherapists!Maintainingtherapeuticalliancewhilemanagingtransferenceisessentialwithperfectionistclients

StressandtheOptimalLevelofArousal(Yerkes-DodsonLaw,1908)

EmotionalRegulation

• Theattempttocontrolaffectandfindtheoptimallevelofarousal• FindingtheoptimallevelofarousalisfarmoredifficultforSociallyPrescribedPerfectionistsas

theyaregreatlyinfluencedbytheirenvironmentandpeoplearoundthem• Physiologicaltoolssuchasdeepbreathingexercisesandimagerycanproduceaphysical

responsethathasapositiveeffectonregulatingemotion