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Perfectionism: meaning, definitions and examples

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perfectionism

 

[pəˈfɛkʃ(ə)nɪz(ə)m ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Noun

mental health

Perfectionism is a personality trait characterized by a person's striving for flawlessness and setting excessively high performance standards, accompanied by critical self-evaluations and concerns regarding others' evaluations.

Synonyms

excessive idealism, overachievement.

Examples of usage

  • Her perfectionism led to feelings of anxiety and stress.
  • Perfectionism can sometimes interfere with completing tasks efficiently.
Context #2 | Noun

psychology

Perfectionism can be a defense mechanism used to cope with feelings of inadequacy or low self-worth. It is often associated with a fear of failure and can lead to procrastination or avoidance of tasks.

Synonyms

perfectionist tendencies, self-criticism.

Examples of usage

  • His perfectionism stemmed from a fear of not being good enough.
  • Perfectionism can manifest as an avoidance of situations where one might not excel.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

  • The word originated from the Latin 'perfectio', meaning 'completion or fullness'.
  • It entered the English language in the late 19th century, evolving to describe a focus on flawlessness.

Psychology

  • Some studies show that perfectionism can lead to anxiety, as individuals often feel they cannot meet their own high standards.
  • There are different types, such as self-oriented perfectionism (demanding perfection from oneself) and socially prescribed perfectionism (feeling pressure to be perfect from others).

Pop Culture

  • In literature, characters exhibiting perfectionism often face emotional challenges, such as in 'Death of a Salesman' by Arthur Miller.
  • Movies like 'Black Swan' explore how the pursuit of perfection can lead to destructive behavior.

Art

  • Artists like Leonardo da Vinci often strived for perfection, famously taking years to complete works. Da Vinci reportedly never felt any of his works were truly perfect.
  • The tension between artistic expression and perfectionism is a common theme in art history.

Cultural Perspectives

  • In some cultures, perfectionism is highly valued and seen as a pathway to success, while in others, it can be viewed as a source of stress and dissatisfaction.
  • Asian cultures may emphasize group harmony and community, leading to different expressions of perfectionism compared to Western individualistic cultures.

Translations

Translations of the word "perfectionism" in other languages:

🇵🇹 perfeccionismo

🇮🇳 पूर्णतावाद

🇩🇪 Perfektionismus

🇮🇩 perfeksionisme

🇺🇦 перфекціонізм

🇵🇱 perfekcjonizm

🇯🇵 完璧主義 (kanpeki shugi)

🇫🇷 perfectionnisme

🇪🇸 perfeccionismo

🇹🇷 mükemmeliyetçilik

🇰🇷 완벽주의 (wanbyeokjuui)

🇸🇦 الكمالية

🇨🇿 perfekcionismus

🇸🇰 perfekcionizmus

🇨🇳 完美主义 (wánměi zhǔyì)

🇸🇮 perfekcionizem

🇮🇸 fullkomnunarárátta

🇰🇿 перфекционизм

🇬🇪 პერფექციონიზმი

🇦🇿 perfeksionizm

🇲🇽 perfeccionismo

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #28,874, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.