According to a study published in Psychological Bulletin, the first to compare perfectionism across generations, rates of people identifying as perfectionists increased between 1989 and 2016.
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The three types of perfectionism are: self-oriented, other-oriented, and socially prescribed. Find out which one you are and how to avoid taking your perfectionism to the extreme:
The different types of perfectionism
Self-oriented perfectionism
Self-oriented perfectionists are what we commonly think of when we think of perfectionism. They are organised and conscientious, and set high standards for themselves. But self-oriented perfectionists are often too hard on themselves if they don’t meet these expectations, and may feel as though they’re not good enough.
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Other-oriented perfectionism
While self-oriented perfectionism is about yourself, other-oriented perfectionism is about—you guessed it—others. Other-oriented perfectionists expect other people to behave in a certain way. They hold other people to high standards, and if you don’t meet those expectations, they can be critical and judgemental.
Socially prescribed perfectionism
Socially prescribed perfectionists care deeply about what others think of them. They feel immense pressure to behave or look a certain way due to standards they perceive other people impose on them. They are very self-critical and fear rejection by others.
Healthy striving
If you’re beginning to take your perfectionism too far, and are becoming anxious or experiencing burn out, it’s recommended that you try and shift towards ‘Healthy striving’. Healthy striving is the middle ground between high performance and damaging overachievement.
To achieve Healthy striving, here are some tips:
- Practice self-care, mindfulness, and gratitude
- Don't be afraid to ask for help
- Set smaller, more realistic goals
- Delegate if you're feeling overwhelmed
- Take the time to celebrate your successes
- Enjoy the journey, rather than focusing too much on the outcome
