Perfectionism in Childhood and Adolescence

Perfectionism is growing more prevalent among young people today, with increasing numbers of children admitting they feel pressure to be, or appear to be, perfect.

This book describes perfectionism's mental health costs and effects on achievement, explaining the myriad and often surprising ways children and adolescents exhibit perfectionism in their family, school, and social environments. Most importantly, the authors suggest clinical interventions to help perfectionistic children regain perspective, and accept their limitations.

Authors Gordon L. Flett and Paul L. Hewitt expertly summarize relevant studies, demonstrating that perfectionism is pernicious and requires a complex and multi-faceted approach to prevention and treatment. A clinically-focused section rounds out the book, with concrete steps counselors and educators can take to help build resilience and adaptability.

Introduction

• Chapter 1: Core Themes and Definitions
• Chapter 2: Perfectionism in Children and Adolescents: A Historical Perspective
• Chapter 3: The Emergence and Prevalence of Perfectionism in Children
• Chapter 4: Keys to Understanding Perfectionistic Children
• Chapter 5: The Comprehensive Model of Perfectionistic Behavior in Children and Adolescents
• Chapter 6: Measures of Perfectionism
• Chapter 7: The Development of Perfectionism
• Chapter 8: The Pressure to be Perfect in Learning, Performance, and Achievement
• Chapter 9: Interpersonal and Psychosocial Aspects
• Chapter 10: Perfectionism and Depression
• Chapter 11: Perfectionism and the Suicidal Adolescent
• Chapter 12: The Treatment of Perfectionism in Children and Adolescents
• Chapter 13: Building Resilience and Adaptability in the Perfectionistic Child

Gordon L. Flett, PhD, is professor in the Department of Psychology at York University in Toronto, Canada, where he holds a Canada Research Chair in Personality & Health and is also director of the LaMarsh Centre for Child and Youth Research.

Dr. Flett is most recognized for his seminal contributions to research and theory on the role of perfectionism in pathology. His other research interests include the study of feelings of mattering to others in health and well-being, and the nature and correlates of suicidality in the elderly.

Dr. Flett is a Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science, which has cited him as one of the top 25 most productive authors in psychology.

Paul L. Hewitt, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of British Columbia. He is a registered clinical psychologist, and his research focuses primarily on personality vulnerabilities and their implications for psychological difficulties among adults, adolescents, and children.

Dr. Hewitt is a Fellow of the Canadian Psychological Association and of the Association's Section on Clinical Psychology. He was cited as one of the top 10 Canadian clinical psychology professors for research productivity and was awarded the Donald O. Hebb Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychology as a Science by the Canadian Psychological Association.

Dr. Hewitt has published over 300 research papers, books, and chapters on perfectionism, psychopathology, and psychotherapy.

• 2023 PROSE Awards Finalist

Flett and Hewitt have been at the forefront of research on perfectionism for more than 30 years. This book contains a thorough and well-researched summary of what they and others have learned about perfectionism in children, including its key features, how it develops, in what contexts it occurs, and how to treat it. This will be the go-to resource on perfectionism in children and adolescents.
—Randy O. Frost, PhD, Harold and Elsa Siipola Israel Professor Emeritus, Smith College, Northampton, MA, United States

Flett and Hewitt have done a thorough job of explaining the conceptual models and empirical evidence around the construct of perfectionism, in ways that are clear and easy to digest.
—Suniya S. Luthar, PhD, Founder & Executive Director, AC Groups, and Professor Emerita, Columbia University’s Teachers College, New York, NY, United States

Flett and Hewitt are the established experts in understanding perfectionism as a multidimensional factor in health, well-being, and, now, development. This book provides essential information to the educator, clinician, and parent in addressing a child’s developing perfectionism. With nearly 20% of U.S. high school youth seriously thinking about suicide, and an alarming increase in suicidality among Black girls in particular, this research empowers our capacity to do resilience and harm prevention work.
—Christine Wekerle, PhD, Associate Professor, Pediatrics and Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Here, eminent authorities on perfectionism provide an essential guide and comprehensive account of key theory, research, and practice issues. A must-read for anyone interested in perfectionism and those who work with children and adolescents.
—Professor Andrew P. Hill, York St John University, York, United Kingdom

This book is invaluable for clinicians, researchers, students, and practitioners trying to navigate the perfectionism literature and learn how best to prevent the development of perfectionism and promote psychological well-being in perfectionistic children and young people. It is destined to become the standard reference on perfectionism in children and young people.
—Tracy C. Donachie, PhD, CPsychol, FHEA, Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology, Newcastle University, York, United Kingdom