A perfectionist is someone who always strives for perfection. Perfectionists usually will not be able or difficult to accept and tolerate the slightest error from the people around them.
So, you could say that the word perfect is like a double-edged sword. Perfection may seem positive, but for perfectionists themselves the word perfect makes them so focused on pursuing standards that they forget how to enjoy life.
Reporting from Psychology Today, here are some characteristics of perfectionists!
Rigid Mindset
Perfectionists have rigid principles of life. They think with a black-and-white mindset, namely if something is not right it means it is wrong, if something is not good it means it is bad, including if something is not perfect it means it is a failure.
Taking Extreme Choices
It was mentioned in the previous point that perfectionists think in black and white. This is not only reflected in the mindset, but also in behavior. A perfectionist is someone who will destroy anything that is not perfect.
For example, when they accidentally eat cake while on a diet, they will think that the diet they have been doing so far has failed and decide to eat all the foods that are not consumed while on a diet.
Do not believe in the abilities of others
Perfectionists rarely delegate tasks to others because they do not believe that other people can do the task as well and as perfectly as they can.
Lots of Demand
Perfectionists always try to do and give the best results so they have high expectations that other people will do the same.
It's hard to finish something
Not only diet, perfectionists also tend to have difficulty completing other jobs. This happens because they are always looking for extra things that can be done in order to complete the task more perfectly.
Obsessed With Rules
Perfectionists have standards or rules in their heads that MUST be followed. They believe that if something is not done according to these standards or rules, the results obtained will not be satisfactory.
Fluctuating Confidence Levels
A perfectionist craves to appear superior and needs validation from others to feel satisfied with his accomplishments. If other people acknowledge their success, then their self-confidence will increase. Meanwhile, if no one acknowledges his success, then they will feel inferior.
It's hard to accept mistakes
When they make mistakes, perfectionists will tend to gammon or fail to move on. They may get the highest score on a test, but they will not get enough and instead focus on the questions they should be able to answer correctly.
Postponing and Avoiding Adverse Situations
Perfectionists are known to have an extreme mindset and are very afraid of failure. This affects the attitude they take when faced with situations that are less favorable to them. Rather than fail, they are better off delaying or avoiding situations where they cannot demonstrate perfection.