Perfectionism
in Gifted
Students
We In Doubt Call
Perfectionism Defined
• Personality characteristics involves
o Tendency to place excessive emphasis on
organization
o Setting of and striving for high personal
standards
o Critical self-evaluation if these standards
are not reached
o High concern over mistakes
o Doubts quality of personal achievement
Definition Continued
•
Perfectionism, in psychology, is a personality
disposition characterized by an individual
striving for flawlessness and setting
excessively high performance standards,
accompanied by overly critical selfevaluations and concerns regarding others'
evaluations. It is best conceptualized as a
multidimensional characteristic, as
psychologists agree that there are many
positive and negative aspects.
• Wikipedia
Types of Perfectionism
1. Adaptive Perfectionism
2. Maladaptive Perfectionism
Types of Perfectionism
• Adaptive Perfectionism
o Adherence to high self-standards, order, and
organization
o Freedom to be less precise
o Experience positive feelings when task is
completed
Adaptive Behaviors
• Carefully attending to task and school work
• Keeping their rooms and workspace neat
• Engaging in limited acting out behaviors that
require few discipline referrals
Types of Perfectionism
• Maladaptive Perfectionism
o High standards that never seem achievable
o Excessive self-criticism
o Completed projects are not enjoyed
o Considerable anxiety about imperfections
Types of Perfectionism
• All or Nothing Thinking
• Transforming Desires into Demands
• Focusing on unmet goals and challenges rather
than success
Identifying Maladaptive
Behaviors
• Overly serious about their school work or task
• Frustrated when things do not go as they would like
• Hesitant to engage in activities that may result in a
“mess” of some sort
• Extremely self critical behaviors
• Anxiety or depression
Other Signs of
Perfectionism
• How does your child respond to competition?
• How does your child respond to compliments?
• How are you modeling?
Frustration as Parents
Activities
• Engaging children with play materials they would
usually reject
o Toys and Art Material
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Play doh
Clay
Finger Paints
Games like Fibber
Activities
• Students can learn many lessons from studying
famous people
• Involve your students in the community
A Little Love and Logic
Goes a Long Way
• Lock in Empathy
• Return Responsibility
• Turn your words into Gold
• Feeling followed by huh?
Turn Your Words Into Gold
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What are you going to do about it….
I love you too much to argue….
That is something you can decide…
What would work best for you ____ or ______
You can _______ or _____________
Do you want to know what other kids say works___
You worked really hard on that…
How did you do that….
I noticed…….
Thoughts
• Kids that are gifted are often praised not for who
they are as people but for what they can do that
astounds others around them
• Consider what you are praising, their attempt or
results
• Before looking at grades ask your child, what are
you most proud of
• Ask, “What did you learn?” not “What did you
earn?”
• Model Imperfection without apologizing
• Sometimes it Is easier not to try than to say I failed
References
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Ashby, J. S., Kottman, T., & Martin, J. L. (2004). Play therapy with young
perfectionists. International Journal of Play Therapy, 13(1), 35-55.
•Ashby, J. S., Kottman, T., & Stoltz, K. B. (2006). Multidimensional perfectionism and
personality profiles. The Journal of Invidiaual Psychology, 62(3), 313-323.
•Bardone-Cone, A. M., Sturm, K., Llawson, M. A., Robinson, D. R., & Smith, R. (2010).
Perfectionism across stages of recovery from eating disorders. International Journal
of Eating Disorders, 43(2), 139-148.
•Cox, B. J., Clara, I. P., Enns, M. W. (2009). Self-criticism, maladaptive perfectionism,
and depression symptoms in a community sample: A longitudinal test of the
mediating effects of person-dependent stressful life events. Journal of Cognitive
Psyhotherapy: An International Quarterly. 23(4), 336-349.
•Hazan, C. & Shaver, P. (1987) Romantic love conceptualized as an attachment
process. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52(3), 511-524.
•Kottman, T. (2001). Adlerian play therapy. International Journal of Play Therapy,
10(2), 1-12
•Purdon, C., Antony, M. M., & Swinson, R. P. (1999). Psychometric properties of the
Frost MultidimensionalPerfectionism Scale in a clinical anxiety disorders sample.
Journal of Clinical Psychology, 55, 1271–1286
References
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Rice, K. G., Ashby, S. J., & Preusser, K. J. (1996). Perfectionism, relationship
with parents, and self-esteem. Individual Psychology, 52(3), 246-260.
•Rice, K. G., Lopez, F. G., & Vergana, D. (2006). Parental/social influences
on perfectionism and adult attachment orientations. Journal of Social
and Clinical Psychology, 24(4), 580-605.
•Rice, K. G., & Mirzadeh, S. A. (2000). Perfectionism, attachment, and
adjustment. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 47(2), 238-250.
•Ulu, I. P., & Tezer, E. (2010). Adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism,
adult attachment, and big five personality traits. The Journal of
Psychology, 144(4), 327-340.
•Wei, M., Heppner, P. P., Russell, D. W., & Young, S. K. (2006). Maladaptive
perfectionism and ineffective coping as mediators between attachment
and future depression: A prospective analysis. Journal of Counseling
Psychology, 57 (1), 67-79.
Sinem Akay, M.S.Ed.
University of North Texas