Self -criticism and perfectionism, what is your relationship

Self -criticism and perfectionism are closely linked and usually cause great discomfort in people who tend to it.

Many studies have evidenced that Perfectionism is related to eating disorders, depression, anxiety and stress. About Self -criticism has been associated with depression. Hence, it is so important to examine the impact of these two variables on people's lives.

Content

• Self -criticism and perfectionism
• Normal perfectionism and neurotic perfectionism
• Comparative self -criticism and internalized self -criticism
  • Bibliography

Self -criticism and perfectionism

Self -criticism and perfectionism They can have their causes in early childhood, when parents act indifferent to their children or are demanding high levels Regarding its performance, achievements and performance.

The genesis of self -criticism and perfectionism could also be found in parenting with a type of distant, cold and controlling relationship, in which children would be evaluated severely by their parents in the face of errors. These early experiences could be internalized and becoming models of social experiences in the future.

Thus, the negative vision that an individual has of himself, linked to self -criticism, is part of the way in which parents influenced their children.

According to the author Lorena de la Rosa, in her study on perfectionism and self -criticism: clinical considerations, perfectionism is defined as a tendency to establish high standards of performance in combination with an excessively critical evaluation of itself and a growing concern for making mistakes.

Normal perfectionism and neurotic perfectionism

In the year of 1978, the theoretical research of Hamachesk differentiated two types of perfectionism: normal perfectionism and neurotic perfectionism.

Based on this, the Adaptive perfectionists They presented high levels of performance and low discrepancy, while Deadaptive perfectionists They showed a high performance standard, accompanied by high discrepancy. In this sense, the discrepancy would be defined as the repetitive perception that a person has that he fails to comply with those high standards that he has established herself.

Self -criticism is classified as a cognitive personality style in which the subject is evaluated and elaborates a self -judgment.

As we have already mentioned, perfectionism is considered a multidimensional parameter, that is, it presents a dysfunctional or maladaptive side and a more adaptive aspect.

Regarding the functional aspect, This should fulfill an important role that would allow the subject to evaluate his own behavior to identify adequate or inappropriate behaviors. Thus, adaptive behaviors would increase the perception that the subject has on his own efficiency. Conceived in this way, this perception would make it possible for the individual to build an identity that would facilitate him to be able to deal with the difficulties of life.

When a person elaborates a balanced criticism can identify the less appropriate behaviors to correct them and perform more efficiently and efficiently.

Therefore, from psychotherapy we usually work from this area that allows reflection towards itself, that is, it strengthens internal dialogue, or introspection, to reinforce functional behaviors and have a better adaptation in the environment.

However, there are subjects who tend towards self -criticism and perfectionism with the presence of perceptual biases. For example, they perceive only inappropriate behaviors, they do not recognize adequate behaviors, but attribute the results to external agents or factors, such as chance, for example.

These individuals with this trend of self -criticism and dysfunctional perfectionism also despise all the positive results that derive from their actions Or, once a goal was reached, they perceive that "it was not as important" as they believed in principle.

If they make any mistakes, achievements tend to be devalued and understand personal failure as a globto, that is, they are evaluated globally because only the mistake is required in a single aspect of their actions to perceive it as a failure that involves its entire person.

Self -criticism and perfectionism can reach the person to a certain rigidity, because they do not consider alternative options, but maintain hypervigilant behavior and Before the slightest mistake they begin to formulate as much negative ideas about themselves.

Another characteristics of self -criticism and perfectionist people are that they are insecure and this makes it difficult for them to face their life and develop their full potential, due to the same fear of making mistakes.

The conflict with itself is always present, in addition to anxiety, insecurity and feeling of guilt.

What are cognitive biases and what are the main

Comparative self -criticism and internalized self -criticism

To all of the above, it is added that they can also occur Two types of self -criticism. The comparative and internalized.

Comparative self -criticism occurs when the subject is evaluated and elaborates a negative definition of himself, taking as reference the comparison with others. In these cases, the other individuals with whom they compare are perceived as superiors, which makes the person experience discomfort, since he despises himself, so he tends to isolation and hostility.

As to Internalized self -criticism, this is defined as a negative vision that the subject has of himself, but compared to its internal standards. In this case, self -criticism is not part of the comparison with others, nor in the opinions that the rest has about that person, but in the own vision that person has, according to which it is conceived as poor.

All this leads to the interesting conclusion that the concepts of self -criticism and perfectionism are closely linked. Well, Perfectionism is the tendency or aspiration to be perfect, even if self -criticism does not require the search for perfection necessarily.

So, self -criticism implies more a position to be evaluated negatively, regardless of the achievement of the proposed objective or not.

But, self -criticism and perfectionism are also intertwined to the extent that who is negatively self -critical, when he recognizes his achievements, increases the standards, with the belief that this will lead him to experience satisfaction.

This situation keeps the prisoner from a circle in which the devaluation prevails, Since, not reaching the objective, the person makes a punitive self -assessment that makes him dissatisfied with himself constantly.

This has led to the fact that Self -criticism is a factor that maintains dysfunctional perfectionism. It should be noted that Positive self -criticism is one that allows the person to move forward, learn from mistakes and grow.

When self -criticism is positive, the individual realizes what he has done incorrectly, but to assume and face it so that he can achieve his objectives, leaving aside the devaluation judgments, guilt and shame.

This type of positive self -criticism is typical of those who have strong and healthy self -esteem.

Bibliography

• Ashby, j. S. And Slaney, R. B., (2002). A Programmatic Approach to Measuring Perfectionism: The Almost Perfect Scales. In g. L. Flett and R. Hewitt (eds.), Perfectionism (P.p. 63-88). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
• From pink, l., Dalla Valle, to., Rutsztein, g., & Keegan, E. (2012). Perfectionism and self -criticism: clinical considerations. ARGENTINE MAGAZINE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL CLINIC, twenty-one(3), 209-215. Rice, k. G.
• From pink, l. (2012). Deadaptive or Clinical Perfectionism Maintenance Factors. In IV International Congress of Research and Professional Practice in Psychology XIX Research Days VIII Meeting of Researchers in Mercosur Psychology. Faculty of Psychology-University of Buenos Aires.
• From pink, l., Dalla Valle, to. EITHER., & Keegan, E. (2011). A review of studies related to the self -critical style construct and its relationship with maladaptive permaptive and rumiative processes. In III International Congress of Research and Professional Practice in Psychology XVIII Research Days Seventh Meeting of Researchers in Mercosur Psychology. Faculty of Psychology-University of Buenos Aires.
• Hamachek, d. AND. (1978). Psychodynamics of Normal and Neurotic Perfectionism. Psychology, 15, 27-33.
• Helguera, g. P., & Oros, l. B. (2018). Perfectionism and self -esteem in Argentine university students.