The Pathology of Perfectionism: How to Tame the Inner Critic

The Pathology of Perfectionism: How to Tame the Inner Critic is organized by Institute for Brain Potential (IBP).

Initial Release Date: 08/01/2019 
Expiration Date: 08/01/2022

Description:
People who set unrealistic standards for themselves or others are at higher risk of worry, depression, body image problems, restricted eating, and professional fatigue and burnout.

This program describes familial and social origins, clinical features, and effective treatments for perfectionism in children, teens and adults. Emphasis is placed on how to live or work with people who have unrealistic expectations.

Participants completing this program should be able to:
• Describe the origins and forms of perfectionism.
• Distinguish between realistic and maladaptive beliefs that underlie perfectionism.
• Identify common perfectionistic behaviors.
• List effective evidence-based interventions that health professionals can apply to help protect and enhance their health when working with people
with unrealistic standards in medical, dental, and behavioral practices.

Origins and Maladaptive Forms of Perfectionism
• Origins
• Self-Oriented Perfectionism
• Other-Oriented Perfectionism
• Socially Prescribed Perfectionism
• Positive versus Negative Perfectionism
• Assessment

Common Maladaptive Beliefs of Perfectionists
• Excessively high and inflexible standards
• Excessive need for control
• Unrealistic expectations of others
• Lack of trust of other people’s competence
• Double standards for self versus others
• Catastrophic thinking when one’s standards are unmet

Common Maladaptive Behaviors of Perfectionists
• Overcompensating to conceal one’s weaknesses Compulsive behaviors (e.g., checking and hoarding)
• Assurance-seeking
• Unnecessary correcting of others
• Excessive organizing and reorganizing
• Delaying making decisions
• Unwillingness to quit when an approach is not working
• Lack of trust when delegating
• Disordered eating
• Stress behaviors when unattainable standards are not met

Guidelines for Taming the Inner Critic
• Cognitive-Behavioral Skills (CBT)
• Identifying automatic thoughts that trigger distress
• Identifying maladaptive consequences of perfectionism Reframing cognitive distortions to shift perspective
• Improving tolerance for uncertainty and ambiguity
• Revising beliefs to increase willingness to compromise
• Dealing with the most common obstacles that arise in CBT

Behavioral Strategies
• Limiting maladaptive safety behaviors
• Desensitization to extinguish fears
• Ritual prevention to reduce compulsive habits
• Strategies for maintaining gains