Perfectionism is not a pathology
Gena Gorlin • The quest for psychological perfection
Adler (1973) regarded perfectionism as an indispensable part of life, a striving to rise above feelings of dependency and helplessness. Understanding one’s personal power, for Adler, involved maximizing one’s abilities and using them for the good of society. Maslow (1971) equated the full realization of one’s potential with the absence of neurosis.
... See moreDr. Linda Silverman • Perfectionism: the Crucible of Giftedness
Olympic champions, scientific breakthroughs, great works of art are all products of the perfectionistic personality gone right.
Dr. Linda Silverman • Perfectionism: the Crucible of Giftedness
In Maslow’s prescription for self-actualization, he invites counselors to encourage what others might discourage: perfectionistic zeal.
Dr. Linda Silverman • Perfectionism: the Crucible of Giftedness
If there is such a thing as human perfection, it seems to emerge precisely from how we handle the imperfection that is everywhere, especially our own. – Richard Rohr
perfection is an abstract concept. It takes an abstract mind to grasp its meaning and to cherish a vision that does not exist in the concrete world. Facility with abstraction is the sine qua non of giftedness; this quality differentiates the gifted from others throughout the lifespan.
Dr. Linda Silverman • Perfectionism: the Crucible of Giftedness
This is precisely what Jung fought against.3 He saw this for what it was: not science, but scienti... See more
Laura London • In Defense of Carl Jung: Beyond Scientific Dogma
Most of my clients, and the parents of gifted children that I address at workshops and seminars, reveal that they are perfectionists. My first task is to help them see their perfectionism as a strength instead of as a weakness. I share with them the strong linkage between perfectionism and giftedness, and explain that it comes with the territory of
... See more