Perfectionist mindset

Perfectionism is an easily recognizable trait found in many gifted students.  Gifted students often measure their worth by the praise they are given (Mofield & Peters, 2018a). There are two main forms of perfectionism: positive perfectionism and maladaptive perfectionism.  “Positive perfectionism is a healthy striving towards high standard and can be a driving force toward excellence, but maladaptive perfectionism breeds dissatisfaction and anxiety” (Mofield & Peters, 2018a, p. 177).

            Fear is the chief reason behind maladaptive perfectionism. Maladaptive perfectionists tend to have a strong fear of making mistakes. “When we dig deeper into the roots of this fear, the fear of failure is grounded in the fear of experiencing shame, a painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior” (Mofield & Peters, 2018, p. 178). Perfectionism comes from perceptions, whether the gifted student believes it to be true or perceives it from others (Moefield & Peters, 2019).

            There is a strong correlation between perfectionism and mindsets. Gifted students with fixed mindsets believe their intelligence is fixed, whereas students with growth mindsets believe their abilities are adaptable and able to change (Mofield & Peters, 2018b, p. 328). Mindsets can be shaped and molded by the messages sent to gifted students through praise and positive communication.

            Some behaviors associated with perfectionist mindset include overcompensating behaviors, excessive checking and rechecking of tasks, avoidance behaviors such as quickly giving up on a challenging assignment, and underachievement (Mofield & Peters, 2018b, p. 180). Other behaviors attributed to perfectionism are harsh self-criticism, personal shame or guilt, procrastination, all-or-nothing thinking, and workaholism (Mofield & Peters, 2019).