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Perfection and Self-Worth: What is a Healthy Standard?
In today's society, self-evaluation based on achievement and perfection is becoming more and more common. With the popularity of social media, perfectionism seems to have become the new normal for many young people, leading to a rise in mental health issues. According to research by psychologists, perfectionism, on the one hand, has been considered both positive and negative in previous studies, but data in recent years have shown that this trend is gradually eroding the mental health of young people.
Perfectionists often feel frustrated and anxious when pursuing unattainable goals, which may eventually lead to depression, anxiety and other adjustment problems.
Definition of perfectionism
Perfectionism in psychology is a rampant personality trait characterized by a constant pursuit of flawlessness and perfection, coupled with concerns about self-evaluation and the evaluation of others. Preliminary research conceptualizes it as a multi-dimensional and multi-layered personality trait in which people often experience tremendous psychological pressure in their pursuit of perfection to please others or themselves.
Normal and neurotic perfectionism
Psychologist D.E. Hamachek proposed two opposing types of normal perfectionism and neurotic perfectionism in 1978. Normal perfectionists enjoy the process of pursuing perfection and it does not hinder their sense of self-worth; whereas neurotic perfectionists feel dissatisfied because they cannot achieve unrealistic goals.
Healthy perfectionists should have high indicators of pursuit of perfection, but at the same time low levels of worry about perfection; unhealthy perfectionists should have high indicators of both.
Types and effects of perfectionism
Current research supports that perfectionism can be divided into different dimensions, including self-directed perfectionism, socially imposed perfectionism, and perfection expectations of others. These different types can affect an individual's mental health and assessment of self-worth. For example, self-directed perfectionists like to set strict self-standards, while socially imposed perfectionists feel pressured by the expectations of others.
Social isolation and perfectionism
The social isolation model of perfectionism points out that perfectionists choose to close themselves off because of fear of being judged, which ultimately leads to social difficulties and the deterioration of interpersonal relationships. This pursuit of perfection often in turn creates alienation in relationships, making it more difficult for them to obtain necessary emotional support.
Perfectionism, while it may initially serve to satisfy a sense of self-worth and a need for interpersonal acceptance, ultimately leads to more severe social isolation.
Tools for measuring perfectionism
Currently, a variety of measurement tools are used to identify manifestations of perfectionism, such as the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, the Perfectionism Self-Expression Scale, etc. These scales not only measure an individual’s level of perfectionism but can also help identify mental health issues it may cause.
The focus of psychologists
A growing body of research is focusing on the connection between perfectionism and psychological disorders. From social anxiety to depression, perfectionism often coexists with these mental health issues, leaving psychologists worried about its potential impact on the future.
The consequences of perfectionism
Driven by perfectionism, many people may choose to procrastinate or be too hard on themselves, further exacerbating anxiety and self-doubt. Perfectionism not only creates a burden on the individual level, but also creates stubborn and unrealistic behavior patterns in social interactions, causing damage to overall mental health.
Summary
Perfectionism is widespread in modern society and its impact is far-reaching. Although the pursuit of excellence is a person's motivation for progress, excessive perfectionism can put people into mental health difficulties. In an age where self-expression is increasingly valued, should we rethink the healthy balance between perfection and self-worth?
