What Is Adaptive Perfectionism and Why Can It Be a Good Thing

I wrote this article from the perspective of the "perfectionist" in me who considers doing things to high standards, paying attention to detail, trying to be the best version of yourself within human limits, which does not make you a serious candidate for a disorder. personality.

So, I ask you: do you consider yourself a perfectionist? Are you always trying to achieve perfection in the work you do? Do you feel the need for everything to be perfect in everything you do, but also in those around you?

Perfectionists typically strive for perfection by setting extraordinary standards for performance and goals, both personally and in their careers.

What is perfectionism?

Perfectionism is the tendency to set very high standards for both ourselves and others. Like any personality trait, perfectionism includes a wide range of traits, some negative and some positive. In our culture, perfectionism is treated as a negative thing, but research shows that it can be both adaptive (healthy) and unhealthy.

Perfectionism is included in the Handbook of Diagnosis and Statistical Classification of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) as a type of obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, characterized by the rigid insistence that everything be perfect, without errors or mistakes, both in terms of oneself, as well as regarding the actions of those around.

However, a person can be a perfectionist, can look for perfection in the things he does, and yet, to remain psychologically healthy and this characteristic to prove even adaptive.

In short, perfectionism has both positive and negative sides. On the downside, maladaptive perfectionism manifests itself as a compulsion to achieve an unrealistic level of perfection, and studies have shown that the stress of maladaptive perfectionism can lead to elevated levels of anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and insomnia.

On the plus side, adaptive perfectionism manifests itself as a desire to give your best, without being disappointed if sometimes things don't work out perfectly.

Why is perfectionism important?

There are times in our lives and our society when perfectionism is necessary. For example, when you are going to have critical surgery, you expect the surgeon to work perfectly. For example, pediatric neurosurgeon Ben Carson's personal perfectionist standards have made him one of the best neurosurgeons.

Another example of an industry where perfection is needed is in the field of aerospace engineering. A single miscalculation can lead to catastrophes. Perfectionism was also behind the movements and technological development in today's society. Steve Jobs is already famous for the perfectionist tendencies that have earned him a reputation as a "taskmaster". He demanded from his employees, but also from himself, to treat every task, no matter how insignificant, with great care and perfection. As we already know, this has only led to the remarkable technological evolution that his company has had in the field.

This is why perfectionism can be adaptive:

What does adaptive perfectionism include? It sets high standards for both us and others, it means being persistent in the face of obstacles, and it also involves conscientiousness. Healthy perfectionism usually goes hand in hand with goal-oriented behavior and very good organizational skills.

From this point of view, you can characterize yourself as a perfectionist when it comes to school or work because you always try to perform your tasks at the most advanced level, do your job on time and exceed the expectations of others. At the same time, when you do not complete your tasks or do not reach the desired result, do not get too upset and do not make a real drama out of it. This model is a healthy, positive one.

It is an adaptive perfectionism because it motivates you to be good at what you do and to accomplish tasks on a high level. Many artists and athletes have adaptive perfectionism as their personality trait, which helps them perform to have many professional successes.

The main feature of healthy perfectionism is that the person in question can rationally see that he cannot always achieve perfection and can accept reality, even if he does everything in his power to achieve things as high as possible. At the same time, people who have healthy perfectionism respect those who are unable to achieve perfection, even if it causes them to do so.

The main goal of those who are characterized by adaptive perfectionism is to focus on excellence, rather than on achieving something at all costs.

It's okay to aspire to perfection!

Don't be swayed by propaganda and cultural stereotypes against perfectionism. As philosopher and historian Will Durant said, "We are what we do repeatedly. Thus, excellence is not an action, but a habit ". Durant spent 5 decades writing about the history of civilization, and every sentence he wrote referred to perfection. For the most part, he was successful, and when he didn't touch it, he accepted his mistakes and saw the failures with a lot of humor.

In conclusion, perfectionism does have two edges. Perfectionist impulses can lead a person to express their potential at maximum levels. On the other hand, worries caused by maladaptive perfectionism will lead to excessive stress and burnout. It is a very fine line in maintaining balance and developing adaptive perfectionism.

We must try our best to do our best in what we do, but it doesn't matter if we lose sometimes. This is exactly what adaptive perfectionism is all about. Always try to be the best, always try to push your limits, and set high standards, but always be realistic, objective, and at peace with the idea of ​​a possible failure.