Perfectionism and the Gifted Learner By: Linda Chambers, Claire McCall, Stacey Speicher and

1. Perfectionism and the Gifted Learner By: Linda Chambers, Claire McCall, Stacey Speicher and Tendayi Taylor "The root of excellence is perfectionism. It is the driving force in the personality that propels the individual toward higher and higher goals. There is a strong correlation between perfectionism and giftedness. I have yet to meet a gifted person who wasn’t perfectionistic in some way." Linda Kreger Silverman, Perfectionism

2. What is Perfectionism? Parents and teachers of gifted children often report high correlations between gifted and perfectionism. As a whole, perfectionism involves envisioning ideals and striving for achievement. However, perfectionism can be viewed as having both productive and destructive aspects. PRODUCTIVE For a healthy perfectionist you will see a person whom is driven to do one’s best and finds pleasure and satisfaction with their own achievements. These students aim high to reach challenging goals and strive to fulfill their own potential. "Without perfectionism, there would be no Olympic champions, no great artistic endeavors, no scientific breakthroughs, no exquisite craftsmanship, no moral leaders. It is a basic drive to achieve excellence" (Silverman, 1993, pp. 58-59). DESTRUCTIVE Some students may have unrealistic or inflexible standards. They may describe success as a product or goal that is impossible to achieve. As a result, these students self esteem is largely based on achieving or not achieving success.

3. Common symptoms of student perfectionists: set performance standards that are impossibly high and unnecessarily rigid they are motivated more from fear of failure rather than from the pursuit of success the student may measure his/her own worth entirely in terms of productivity and accomplishment they label anything other than perfection as failure they have difficulty in taking credit or pleasure, even when success is achieved, because such achievement is what is expected they typically procrastinate in getting started on work that will be judged by others they take long delays in completing assignments, or repeatedly start over on assignments, because the work must be perfect from the beginning and continue to be perfect until the end they are unwilling to volunteer or respond to questions until they are absolute certain of the correct answer these students can be overly emotional about minor failures

4. Positive Aspects of Perfectionism Some research indicates that there can be a healthy aspect to perfectionism that leads people to strive for excellence. Healthy perfectionists: want to do their best want order and organization enjoy challenges work and study to please themselves are pleased when their efforts lead to success accept and try to learn from their mistakes do not give in to disappointment “Being a perfectionist could well be a good thing if it means having high standards, for high standards ultimately lead to high achievement” (Winner, 1996, p.215)

5. Positive Aspects of Perfectionism Positive perfectionists set high standards, work to meet their standards, and are happy when they attain their standards. Schuler’s 1999 study of middle school students indicated that the healthy perfectionists enjoyed their parents having high expectations, had positive ways of coping, accepted their mistakes, and had adults who modeled doing their best. The students themselves felt that there were positive aspects to their perfectionism: “being more organized, working harder, setting priorities in their lives” as well as doing better in school and in sports. (Schuler, 1999)

6. Positive Aspects of Perfectionism Even earlier researchers were not convinced that perfectionism was a negative trait. Adler (1956) said “striving for perfection is innate in the sense that it is part of life, a striving, an urge, a something without which life would be unthinkable.” (Adler, 1956) Maslow (1970) said that reaching for perfection, the “full use and exploration of talents, capabilities, potentialities, etc.” indicates the absence, not the presence, of neurosis. (Maslow, 1970)

7. Negatives of Perfectionism “Perfectionism involves envisioning ideals and striving to achieve them.” - Mary Ann Swiatek, Ph.D. Although perfectionism can be positive, there are also negative aspects. Problems arise when goals or standards are so perfect they can never be achieved and perfection is expected on the first try. If perfectionism is not attained instantly it is perceived as a failure which can lead to dysfunction. Dysfunctional Perfectionists: feel frustrated often disappointed live in a state of anxiety about making errors have extremely high standards lack effective coping strategies and exhibit a constant need of approval

8. Negatives of Perfectionism "What is the difference between a healthy striving for excellence and a neurotic preoccupation with perfection?" —Wayne D. Parker Unhealthy perfectionists work hard, not to please or to challenge themselves but to avoid failure.They often have low self-esteem and are sensitive to criticism from parents and teachers. Several personality theorists believe that any perfectionism is detrimental to a student’s well-being. According to Dr. Thomas S. Greenspon, researchers confuse normal perfectionists with high achievers. High achievers may have perfectionist characteristics, but even these characteristics by themselves are unhealthy. Motivation, talent, hard work, and energy cause students to achieve success. Without these traits, perfectionism usually results in frustration and low self-esteem

9. What role can teachers play? First, teachers need to educate themselves on the signs of a perfectionist learner. Teachers need to determine if the perfectionism affects the student in a positive or negative way. If it is determined that the student is able to cope in a positive manner with high expectations of themselves, then foster that goal-setting characteristic. Finding that the students copes in a negative manner then the teacher must explain the differences in high expectations and perfectionism. Observing any of the following indicates a negative impact on the student. procrastinating in beginning an assignment unwilling to share work with classmates/partners frustration with other students lack of perfection a low tolerance for mistakes on their part of those of fellow classmates Once you determine a students needs help in navigating this trait, discuss with him/her goal-setting, past failures experienced by the teacher, an example of a famous person that once failed, but stayed the course to achieve success down the road.

10. Teacher’s role continued provide time management/goal setting with the student chunk assignments with an end date established and agreed upon provide specific criteria for grading - rubric, examples of other superior work samples from previous students allow some room for creativity to show through in work sample use of a contract to encourage the underachieving student encouragement to share within the group safe environment to allow the student to “fail” without a negative impact on his/her personality encourage risk taking teach multiple problem solving skills do not give all assignments a number grade...sometimes pass/fail provides necessary feedback create a neuter curriculum and environment for students to work comfortably in show students how you are “real”...laugh at yourself, show that even you make mistakes make sure students have an outlet to address social and emotional situations: journal writing, small group discussion, group projects with a variety of students, artistic outlets/choices make sure some assignments are designed for the student to show improvement not perfection

11. References Speicher http://www.riage.org/articles/perfectionism-and-the-gifted-adolescent/ McCall: http://www.vtaide.com/png/ERIC/Perfectionist-Students.htm http://www.cmu.edu/cmites/perfectionism.html http://www.riage.org/articles/perfectionism-and-the-gifted-adolescent/?phpMyAdmin=ee86db1e541dbf3da717e9923b16c7ad Chambers: http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/perfectionism.htm http://www.riage.org/articles/perfectionism-and-the-gifted-adolescent/ http://www.cmu.edu/cmites/perfectionism.html http://www.tip.duke.edu/node/613

12. References Taylor http://www.cmu.edu/cmites/perfectionism.html http://www.riage.org/articles/perfectionism-and-the-gifted-adolescent/ http://www.tip.duke.edu/node/613