Perfectionism

Perfectionism is the belief that one can and should be perfect. A person who believes this is called a perfectionist. Perfectionists believe that anything less than perfect is unacceptable. While this can lead people to achieve great accomplishments and give people motivation, it is considered to be a mostly unhealthy belief. Perfectionism can lead to procrastination ("I can't do this project until I can do it the right way."). This can mean low productivity. Perfectionism may also cause low self-esteem and anxiety.

Other websites

• Personality Disorders at the Open Directory Project
• Why Perfect Is Not Always Best (BBC article)
• Seeking Perfection BBC Science and Nature
• The RIGHT Stuff - Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder: A Defect of Philosophy, not Anxiety Steven Phillipson, Ph.D., Center for Cognitive-Behavioral Psychotherapy