Perfectionism

Carla Stock, Intern School Counselor Valley Middle School Apple Valley, Minnesota

Description of Lesson or Program:

The following lesson on perfectionism was presented to a group of about 25 students who are currently in the Gifted and Talented program.  These students are 9^th graders entering the Senior High School.  The lesson is presented during the first trimester of the freshman year.  The lesson presented is one in an ongoing series of meetings and lessons that address various topics of concerns for these students.  Each lesson is delivered in approximately  20 minutes.

This lesson is presented as follows:

5 minute:  Administration of formated test “How Much of a Perfectionist are You?”  This test is from: Perfectionism:  What’s Bad About Being Good?  Mirriam Adderholdt-Elliott, Ph.D.

3 minutes:  Students then evaluate themselves on the attached criteria and come up with a total score and description of their level of perfectionsim.

10 minutes:  Discussion of the negative affects of perfectionism and the irrational beliefs that perpetuate it.

Some Major Irrational Beliefs

-         You must be loved and approved of by everyone.

-         You  must do perfectly in all respects

-         A person who act badly is a bad person

-         It is terrible, horrible, awful and catastrophic when things aren't going the way you want them.

-         Your happiness is caused by the other events or people rather than by how you think or talk to yourself

-         If something it unpleasant, you should be preoccupied and continually upset over it.

-         Things that have happened in the past are all-important, need to be continually worried about, and limit your possibilities for the future.

-         People and things should be different from what they are, and it is catastrophic if perfect solutions cannot be immediately found.

-         Behaviors that worked for someone else, or which formerly worked for you, are what must be followed.

2 minutes:  Review what has been discussed and what negative affects perfectionism can have on             an individual.

Connections to Related Standards, Competencies and Domains:

This lesson relates to the Personal/Social and Educational domains as stated in the Minnesota School Counselors' Model of Developmental Guidance and Counseling.  It adheres to the Personal/Social domain by way of its response to personal and social skills needed to develop a positive sense of self-esteem.  In relating to the educational domain it is necessary for students to get a handle on perfectionism attitudes in order to prevent procrastination, and undo pressure from school work.

References and Resources:

Adderholdt-Elliot, Miriam, Ph.D.   (1989)  Perfectionism:  What's Bad About Being too Good?  Free Spirit Publishing Company, 123 N. Third Street, Minneapolis, MN   55401.

1-612-338-2068.

Galbraith, Judy   (1983) The Gifted Kids Survival Guide.  Free Spirit Publishing Company,

            123 N. Third Street, Minneapolis, MN   55401.  1-612-338-2068.