Understanding Perfectionism in Gifted Children
Definition of Perfectionism and Exploring the Link to Giftedness
Sep 9, 2008
Before parents and teachers can help gifted children overcome perfectionism, they must understand the term, contributing factors to this personality type, and the very real risks for gifted students wanting perfection rather than striving to achieve their personal best.
Defining Perfectionism
Is there such a thing as healthy perfectionism? While the terms “healthy” or “normal perfectionist” frequently appear in literature, Dr. Thomas Greenspon, author of Freeing our Families from Perfectionism [Free Spirit, 2002], argues that these terms are more accurately viewed as misnomers, for example,"Healthy Perfectionism" is an Oxymoron! [2000]. While characteristics such as organization and personal drive exist along a continuum and are common in perfectionists, it is impossible to be a perfectionist without the negative aspects of self-criticism and unrealistic goal setting.
Someone who strives for excellence and their own personal best, but without unachievable goals and a magnified perception of failures, is a healthy person with a growth mindset. Greenspon emphasizes researchers describing healthy perfectionists never characterize them as actually desiring perfection.
Perfectionists are defined not by their quest for excellence or desire for order, but rather unrealistic expectations, fear of failure, fixed mindsets, and hypercritical self-talk. One of the most cited early researchers on perfectionism, Don Hamachek [1978] pointed out that perfectionism is not a set a behaviors so much as the way the perfectionist child thinks about these behaviors.
The Link Between Giftedness and Perfectionism
Perfectionism is not a problem exclusive to gifted children. The perfectionist personality exists independent of IQ, academic achievement, and academic potential. Dr. David Pyryt [2004], professor at the Centre for Gifted Education at the University if Calgary, mentions a recent study of talent search participants finding a similar prevalence of perfectionist traits as compared to an average ability population.
Pyryt says gifted talent search participants were more likely “to exhibit…high personal standards and organization” rather than the negativity, self-criticism, and fear of failure associated with perfectionism. The fact that talent search participants represent a subset of the gifted population limits these results. Underachieving gifted students, many crippled by perfectionism, may miss identification for talent search participation.
While the true prevalence of perfectionism in gifted kids is unknown, perfectionism is a common component of gifted underachievement and a frequent problem addressed at counseling centers serving gifted populations. Since the root of perfectionism lies in a self-concept of conditional approval based on performance, gifted children frequently singled out for academic achievement would be especially vulnerable to developing a perfectionist personality.
Help to Overcome Perfectionism
There is a distinct difference between a healthy strive for excellence and the burden of perfectionism. A passionate, focused gifted student trying to do his or her best is not crippled by self-criticism and does not define self-worth by achievement. Knowing the causes of perfectionism allows parents and teachers to help gifted children avoid the most negative aspects of a perfectionist personality. For more information on the causes and dangers of a perfectionism, please read "Avoiding the Risks of Perfectionism."
References:
Greenspon, Thomas S. “Healthy Perfectionism is an Oxymoron!" The Journal of Secondary Gifted Education Summer 2000, Vol 11, No 4, p.197-208.
Hamachek, Don E. "Psychodynamics of Normal and Neurotic Perfectionism." Psychology 1978 Vol 15, p.27-33.
Pyryt, Michael. “Helping Gifted Students Cope with Perfectionism” from Parenting for High Potential. NAGC June 2004.
