Three Types of Perfectionsim

Interestingly, the experts in perfectionism seem to be Canadians: Gordon Flett at York University in Toronto, and Paul Hewitt at University of British Columbia in Vancouver.

According to Flett and Hewitt, there are three kinds of perfectionism:

1) Self-oriented perfectionism - inner-motivated, expecting perfection of oneself

2) Other-oriented perfectionism - expecting others to be perfect, high standards for others

3) Socially prescribed perfectionism - the belief that others demand perfection of oneself

I would have thought that if you are a perfectionist, you demonstrate all three; but perhaps this is not the case.

For example, in the earlier discussion of the Elements of Perfectionism, I indicate that my drive to be perfect comes from within myself, for my own satisfaction.  In that sense, I don't feel pressure from the outside to be perfect--in fact, I often lament the lack of perfectionism/standards/quality in the external world. 

Consequently, I would say I manifest 1) and 2) above; but not so much 3).  Except, perhaps, when I was in the Church and felt I had to be perfect by those standards--a remnant of which may still linger.  Additionally, when I am in an academic setting, I feel there are external standards of perfection I am expected to achieve.  So 3) is situation specific for me.

As one might expect, perfectionism is co-related with depression, maladjustment, anxiety, poor behavioral and emotional coping tendencies, core irrational beliefs, and dysfunctional, unconstructive thinking.

The only form of perfectionism that seems to have something going for it is 1) Self-oriented perfectionism, because there are elements of mastery and action involved.  On the downside, self-oriented perfectionists score low on self acceptance, as so much is tied up in the success or failure of their enterprises.