To what extent are students perfectionists?
- 39% score highly for performance-focused perfectionism, meaning that they set high goals for themselves.
- 19% score highly for self-critical perfectionism.
- 58% experience low parental criticism.
To what extent are students perfectionists?
Did you know?
One central aspect of perfectionism is the tendency to set high goals for oneself. Performance-focused perfectionism of that kind is not necessarily detrimental. Performance-based perfectionism can become a problem if a student sets high goals for themself because of pressure or the fear of disappointing themselves or others. At that point, performance-based perfectionism risks being associated with self-critical perfectionism, Also strongly parental expectations can ake over.
Gender and age are associated with both self-critical and performance-focused perfectionism:
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Female students are more highly self-critical and more highly performance-focused than male students
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Younger students have a greater chance of high self-critical perfectionism but, conversely, also a lower chance of high performance-focused perfectionism
Conclusions
- Students score particularly highly for self-critical perfectionism: almost 40% set the bar high and set themselves challenging goals;
- One in 5 students report a high degree of self-critical perfectionism, which is characterised by self-criticism and self-doubt;
- Female students are more perfectionist across the board: they are both more performance-focused and more self-critical.
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