Did you know that there is more than one kind of perfectionism? While all perfectionists share certain things in common, there are three different types of perfectionism and each person can have one, two, or all three kinds in varying degrees.
Most perfectionists are predominantly the third type, Self-Oriented Perfectionists, but that doesn’t mean the other types don’t exist or that you’re not a perfectionist if you don’t see yourself in these descriptions.
Here are the three types of perfectionism and a short description of each.
1.) Socially Prescribed Perfectionism
This is the rarest type of perfectionism, in part because people who experience it tend to absorb it and become Self-Oriented Perfectionists. This is perfectionism imposed on a person by someone else, either parents or society.
It’s commonly imposed by parents who are themselves perfectionists and extend their impossible standards to their offspring. Schools and workplaces in some societies can also impose perfectionist standards on children. In the worst situation, pressure from all three directions gets applied to children or adults, with disastrous long-term consequences.
Children and adults who can’t or don’t want to meet these external standards of perfection tend to develop anxiety, depression, and self-esteem issues.
2.) Other-Oriented Perfectionism
This is the second most common type of perfectionism and is the most destructive to social and work relationships. An other-oriented perfectionist projects their perfectionism onto other people.
They expect others to be perfect, even though they themselves aren’t perfect. This type of perfectionist may or may not also have personal perfectionism problems.
This is a socially devastating form of perfectionism that makes it hard for those with it to function in society and the workplace.
3.) Self-Oriented Perfectionism
This is the most common form of perfectionism and is the one in which the perfectionist holds only themselves to their high standards. This is the form often considered “good” or “desirable” by society and jobs because these perfectionists tend to be high achievers and are often the most productive workers.
Just as often, however, self-oriented perfectionists fall into the trap of procrastination, never being finished with something because it’s not “perfect” and other maladaptive behaviors.
Even those who seemingly have it all together on the outside often suffer from depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and other issues as a result of their perfectionism. This program focuses on the second and third types of perfectionism because those who struggle with socially prescribed perfectionism have to get away from the situation before they can make progress over their perfectionism.