It's not uncommon for high-ability children to also be perfectionists. Whether they worry about getting a drawing exactly right, earning all A's in school, or feeling helpless in fixing society's downfalls, approximately 20% of gifted children suffer from perfectionism to the degree it causes problems.
“Perfectionistic feelings include disgust with oneself, anger, anxiety, and shame. “Perfectionism burdens your life, interferes with creativity, and makes intimate relations difficult. It is never healthy.” It is not uncommon for highly gifted students to be perfectionists.
Gifted children know this expectation well. Because they rarely struggle with anything they attempt early on, we set high standards for them. After all, striving for perfection in the sense of learning to excel can be healthy and admirable.
Although intellectually gifted individuals are often portrayed as perfectionists, evidence for an association between cognitive ability and perfectionism is inconclusive.
The study also found that higher IQs was linked to be cautious and being a perfectionist. This may be because being a perfectionist takes longer and people with higher IQs have the patience to wait until the job is done right. The conclusions come from a study of 722 people who were given personality and IQ tests.
Anyone can adopt perfectionist behaviors, but some personalities are more prone to it, Introverts in particular. The top perfectionist types are the INTJ and INFJ personalities. NJs have high standards and, as Introverted Intuitives (Ni dominants), will chase impossible heights of perfection.
From the recent research on perfectionism it has shown that women tend to be more perfectionists than men and have more stress than they do as well. The hypothesis for this research is that women are more likely to be perfectionists than men.
Though the link may seem unlikely at first glance, perfectionism is also strongly associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD or ADD). For some, perfectionism is a psychological overcompensation for past ADHD-related errors or for feelings of inferiority.
While perfectionism is not unique to autistic people nor even a defining trait of autism, individuals on the autism spectrum may be more likely to exhibit perfectionistic traits.
INTJ (Introvert, Intuitive, Thinking, Judging) type scores the highest on conceptual IQ tests among all 16 personality types. They are good at consuming large amounts of information and solving analytical problems for widespread application.
The burdens of their outlier status and never quite feeling they belong take their toll. Even though the gifted are no more susceptible to mental illness than anyone else, some gifted children and teens struggle with overthinking, worry, or cautious alertness.
Social development and skills: gifted and talented children
Gifted children can think faster and/or more deeply than other children their age. So they're often good at imagining what it's like to be in somebody else's situation. Sometimes these qualities mean your gifted and talented child gets along well with others.
While gifted children may not be any more susceptible to mental health issues as other adolescents, there are certain aspects of giftedness that may influence or amplify a gifted child's experience of mental health issues.
Quirky or mature sense of humor. Creative problem solving and imaginative expression. Absorbs information quickly with few repetitions needed. Self-aware, socially aware, and aware of global issues.
Gifted kids often have advanced intellectual skills that allow them to perform at high levels and solve complex problems. But this intelligence is not always accompanied by high social and emotional skills. Socially and emotionally, gifted kids often develop at the same rate or even slower than their peers.
Gifted children are challenging to parent in many ways. The more gifted the child, the more often it seems the more the parent is frustrated with the discrepancy of someone able to do school several levels above age level but unable to remember to take their finished work to school.
There is some evidence within the research community to suggest that perfectionism is a response to trauma, particularly from the psychological wounds arising from childhood trauma.
While not a psychological disorder in itself, perfectionism is linked to anxiety and other mental health issues, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Keep reading to discover what causes perfectionism, its connection to anxiety, and how perfectionism and mental health are related.
Perfectionism is considered a personality trait and is not considered a personality disorder of its own however perfectionism is a trait often seen in obsessive-compulsive personality disorder which is similar to OCD except that the individual is fully supportive of this behavior; identical to individuals who are ...
Perfectionism could have its roots in early events like parental demands. It can even result from receiving excessive praise for accomplishments when you were younger and depending on that praise to make you feel valuable. Mental health issues, a need to feel in control, and low self-esteem can all contribute.
Toxic perfectionists allow their goals to be set by the outside world. They exaggerate perceived external standards, which builds pressure and anxiety. They secretly worry others will reject them if they fall short. This personality style doesn't lead to realistic objectives and hard work.
Seeking perfection is a mindset that many people have, not just those who are high in narcissism. However, for those who tend toward narcissistic personalities, it's all about the particular type of narcissism in question. For the grandiose narcissist, as Smith et al. point out, “Image is everything” (p.
Perfectionism can inspire us to achieve our best, but when it causes anxiety and paralysis, it often works against its own intent. In many cases, this can harm our self-esteem, creating a cycle where it feels challenging to work towards our goals.
Perfectionists are often critical, driven by fear, have unrealistic expectations, fear failure, and are defensive when they face any criticism. If you see some of these perfectionist traits in yourself, don't despair. Recognizing that a change may be needed is a very important first step.
Perfectionists Are Partly Born and Made That Way
In particular, the parenting style you experienced as a child can affect your perfectionistic tendencies, Antony notes. Those who report that they grew up with parents who were highly critical and held them to higher standards are often more perfectionistic.