Perfectionism

Perfectionism involves a tendency to strive to reach exceptionally high standards. It is a relatively stable and enduring personality trait that persists across the life span, and it typically reflects core issues involving identity and the self-concept. Although developmental accounts focus typically on the child and adolescent periods, the development of perfectionism is regarded as a reflection of the role of life contexts and experiences that occur throughout the entire life cycle. In this entry, perfectionism is examined in terms of how it is defined and measured. Other topics include how perfectionism develops and how perfectionism is experienced and expressed across the life course.