Perfectionism Among College Students Grows

For many of us, perfectionism is often confused with the genuine drive and desire to obtain excellence. What perfectionism actually is, however, is the quest for the unobtainable. In this post on perfectionism, Dr. Michael Ashworth explains: Individuals caught up in perfectionistic thinking or behavior commonly experience significant personal distress as well as chronic health and emotional problems. Such individuals can also provoke extremely negative reactions from others due to their unrealistically high standards and quest to avoid failure and rejection… Perfectionism is based on a belief that unless I am perfect, I am not okay. Perfectionists believe that they cannot be happy or enjoy life because they are not perfect. One does not have to be a compulsive organizer to be a perfectionist. Frequently holding oneself or others to unrealistic standards can, by itself, result in stress. It is clear from this description of perfectionism that it is an unhealthy way to live. Some health problems linked to perfectionism include depression, anxiety, eating disorders, high blood pressure and even thoughts of suicide. A 2017 study published in the journal Psychology Bulletin found that, compared to previous generations, college students (between 18-25 years of age) today are more demanding of themselves and put higher levels of pressure on themselves to be perfect. In the study perfectionism was divided into three categories: Self-oriented – putting high expectations on on...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Children and Teens College Habits Happiness Perfectionism Personality Research Stress Student Therapist Students Academia Expectations grades Meritocracy Source Type: blogs