Student Perfectionism: A Two-Edged Sword
Does perfectionism ail our students at the American University of Beirut?
Besides worrying about their course loads, students are concerned about excelling in their courses. At U.S. style universities, counseling centers play a role in identifying issues affecting student performance. The University of Texas Center for Mental Health and Counseling identifies a number of important student concerns that could apply to any university. Among these is perfectionism. The Center distinguishes perfectionism from a healthy pursuit of excellence. Perfectionism involves setting unrealistic standards, never being satisfied, becoming depressed, constant fear of failure and rejection, over-sensitivity to criticism, and seeing mistakes as disasters rather than as stepping stones to success. A healthy pursuit of excellence, in contrast, involves high but realistic standards, enjoyment of process as well as product, tenacity in the face of challenge, appreciation of constructive criticism, and seeing mistakes as opportunities for learning and improvement. The University of Buffalo Counseling Services site has a web page entitled “Preventing Perfectionism”, where it is pointed out that the condition can be crippling, inviting disappointment due to the unrealistically high expectations set for oneself and others. Similarly, Dr. Anthony Kamaroff of Harvard Medical School refers to the pros and cons of perfectionism in “Perfectionism Is a Two-Edged Sword”, warning that it may be exhausting and counterproductive.
UK and Australian universities have also identified relationships between perfectionism and mental health problems. See “Perfectionism and Mental Health in Australian University Students: Is there a Relationship?”, the University of Leicester Graduate School section on “Managing Problems”, and this leaflet on “Perfectionism” from the University of Dundee. Definitely food for thought for AUB students.
Posted by May Mikati on 08 March 2012, 8:45 PM
Does perfectionism ail our students at the American University of Beirut?
Besides worrying about their course loads, students are concerned about excelling in their courses. At U.S. style universities, counseling centers play a role in identifying issues affecting student performance. The University of Texas Center for Mental Health and Counseling identifies a number of important student concerns that could apply to any university. Among these is perfectionism. The Center distinguishes perfectionism from a healthy pursuit of excellence. Perfectionism involves setting unrealistic standards, never being satisfied, becoming depressed, constant fear of failure and rejection, over-sensitivity to criticism, and seeing mistakes as disasters rather than as stepping stones to success. A healthy pursuit of excellence, in contrast, involves high but realistic standards, enjoyment of process as well as product, tenacity in the face of challenge, appreciation of constructive criticism, and seeing mistakes as opportunities for learning and improvement. The University of Buffalo Counseling Services site has a web page entitled “Preventing Perfectionism”, where it is pointed out that the condition can be crippling, inviting disappointment due to the unrealistically high expectations set for oneself and others. Similarly, Dr. Anthony Kamaroff of Harvard Medical School refers to the pros and cons of perfectionism in “Perfectionism Is a Two-Edged Sword”, warning that it may be exhausting and counterproductive.
UK and Australian universities have also identified relationships between perfectionism and mental health problems. See “Perfectionism and Mental Health in Australian University Students: Is there a Relationship?”, the University of Leicester Graduate School section on “Managing Problems”, and this leaflet on “Perfectionism” from the University of Dundee. Definitely food for thought for AUB students.
Posted by May Mikati on 08 March 2012, 8:45 PM
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