The main purpose of this research is to have a better understanding of perfectionism and depression in adults. Perfectionism is a personality trait and perfectionist individuals are individuals who expect high standards of performance. Perfectionism has been identified as a risk factor for major depressive disorder (MDD). In this study, it is examined if outcome expectancy involved in perfectionist individuals differs for individuals with depression compared to non-depressed individuals. To conduct this research 49 depressed and 42 non-depressed individuals participated and to measure the severity of perfectionism and depression a self-report instrument was used. Individuals with depression report higher negative and lower positive outcome …show more content…
The participant’s BDI scores reflected moderate depression severity in the depressed group (mean = 29.62, SD = 9.27), and no depression in the control group (mean = 3.26, SD = 3.83). To measure for the level of perfectionism of an individual the performance perfectionism scale which is a 32-item questionnaire that measures outcome expectancy for performance associated with perfectionism was used. The PPS indexes how individuals expect their perfectionism to influence their performance. To make a graph from the measurements two dimensions are used in this study include, the outcome expectancy for performance (positive or negative), and the source of the high standards for performance (self-generated or prescribed by others). Four subtypes of perfectionism are quantified in the PPS: Positive Self-Oriented Performance Perfectionism, Negative Self-Oriented Performance Perfectionism, Positive Socially Prescribed Performance Perfectionism, and Negative Socially Prescribed Performance Perfectionism. Another test was conducted to measure the depression symptoms which was called Beck depression inventory II. This test includes 21-items questionnaire and the coefficient alphas were .93 and .94 for the Cognitive and Non-Cognitive subscales, respectively. The results revealed that positive and negative outcome expectancy …show more content…
In simple words, this can suggest that positive outcome expectancy with high standards of performance may be associated with more adaptive consequences and it can even play a protective role in depression. Although the depressed or the experimental group showed more negative and less positive outcome expectancies compared to the non-depressed control group, both groups reported more positive than negative outcome expectancy with high standards of performance. Perfectionism in depression is associated with poor treatment response because depressed individuals continue to perceive perfectionism as positive and helpful more than negative and
But then her eyes sought Aylmer’s face with trouble and anxiety. She then said to him ‘Dearest Aylmer, I’m dying,’ and she died.” (Hawthorne 324). Perfectionism is something everyone should try to avoid. It can never bring comfort, instead it adds to the
Michael Sandel is a distinguished political philosopher and a professor at Harvard University. Sandel is best known for his best known for his critique of John Rawls's A Theory of Justice. While he is an acclaimed professor if government, he has also delved deeply into the ethics of biotechnology. At Harvard, Sandel has taught a course called "Ethics, Biotechnology, and the Future of Human Nature" and from 2002 to 2005 he served on the President’s Council on Bioethics (Harvard University Department of Government, 2013). In 2007, Sandel published his book, The Case Against Perfection: Ethics in the Age of Genetic Engineering, in which he explains unethical implications biotechnology has and may have in the near future regarding genetic engineering.
This paper will focus on depressive disorders, and it will describe what they are, how they manifest themselves, what causes them and/or what makes certain individuals susceptible to the disorder as compared to others. This piece will also describe the most common treatment practices, and the effectiveness of these treatments. It will conclude by offering some testimonials from individuals who suffer from depressive disorders as well as some additional commentary about depressive disorders and their implications/challenges.
Depression is the most common of all psychological disorders. It effects more than 100 million people worldwide. Between 8 and 18% of the general population will experience depression in their lifetime. Research has proved that in any 6-month period, 8% of woman, and 4% of men are likely to be diagnosed with some form of depression. Hirshfield and Goodwin (1988) say that as many as 15% of severely depressed individuals eventually kill themselves.
Recent breakthroughs in the field of genetics and biotechnology have brought attention to the ethical issues surrounding human enhancement. While these breakthroughs have many positive aspects, such as the treatment and prevention of many debilitating diseases and extending human life expectancy well beyond its current limits, there are profound moral implications associated with the ability to manipulate our own nature. Michael Sandel’s “The Case Against Perfection” examines the ethical and moral issues associated with human enhancement while Nick Bostrom’s paper, “In Defense of Posthuman Dignity” compares the positions that transhumanists and bioconservatists take on the topic of human enhancement. The author’s opinions on the issue of human genetic enhancement stand in contrast to one another even though those opinions are based on very similar topics. The author’s views on human enhancement, the effect enhancement has on human nature, and the importance of dignity are the main issues discussed by Sandel and Bostrom and are the focus of this essay.
Perfection is much like the lottery; many people will strive for it with the hopes of attaining their ultimate goal, only to realize that reaching it is nearly impossible. However, unlike the lottery, there is not even the slightest chance of winning the final prize. To be completely perfect is an impossible feat, and the more attempts made to reach a status of “perfection”, the more let down a person will be. The quality of complete perfection is unobtainable and unreasonable, yet many cultures and certain groups of people take pride in being known as perfectionists. This reach for the impossible can be seen in the strict code followed by all knights during the feudal time period. Sir Gawain in the late
From a young age, I have always sought to categorize all aspects of my life. I have achieved this through the implementation of certain attributes. These include objectiveness, perfectionism, officiousness, industriousness and decisiveness. I thrive upon structure, without which I experience excessive anxiety. Whether it is a mild form of obsessive compulsive disorder or my inner drive to seek perfection in everything I do, it has impacted my relationships with others as well as my relationship with myself. My impartial nature and my desire to classify all aspects of my life have led me to judge myself and others very critically. My striving for perfection and my strong work ethic, has allowed me to become the best I can be in almost any field I put my mind to. The purpose of this essay is to consider the precepts of the book within the context of certain stages of my own life. Through reflecting on personal experiences I hope to gain a better understanding of myself.
Hamilton, James C., and Holly N. Deemer. “Excessive Reassurance-Seeking as Self-Regulatory Perseveration: Implications for Explaining the Relation between Depression and Illness Behavior” Psychological Inquiry Vol. 10, No. 4 (1999): 293-297 JSTOR Web. 12 Nov. 2013.
Sullivan, M. J., Tripp, D. A., & Catano, V. (1997). The contributions of attributional style, expectancies, depression and self-esteem in a cognition-based depression model. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science, 29(2), 101. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/220514335?accountid=32521
The article "The Destructiveness of Perfectionism: Implications for the Treatment of Depression" used research findings along with anecdotal evidence to support their idea of a connection between individuals' problems with perfectionism and the development of depression. Certain investigations and research provide evidence that perfectionism has a role in adaptive and maladaptive functioning including disorders such as depression and suicide. Some main points the article uses to support these assertions include the stories of three prominent respected men, all with perfectionism crises that committed suicide. The article points out the relationship between these facts, and how this problem may have developed into depression, leading to the eventual suicides. Through cross-examinations of several studies to define categories of perfectionism, two specific ones were generated. These two categories, self-oriented perfectionism and socially prescribed perfectionism, further relate to two types of depression. These types, introjective (self-critical) depression and anaclitic (dependent) depression, correspond respectively to the above mentioned categories. Some antecedents of self-critical, or introjective, depression were mentioned and analyzed in this article. Some identified precursors were disrupted parent-child relations, and childhood experiences of nonapproving or inconsistently approving parents with love that is conditional upon success. The article also addresses the implications of these findings on courses of treatment for depression. It is acknowledged that patients suffering from this perfectionism-derived depression must r...
Existentialism is a term associated with intellectual history. Through propagation of postwar literary concepts and philosophical works, existentialism became part of a cultural drift that prospered in the 1940’s and 50’s, especially in Europe. This concept points out unique groups of philosophical quandaries and now identifies with distinct twentieth and twenty-first century inquiries. It is not so much concerned with “existence” indefinitely, but more precisely the assertion that human existence requires new classifications that are not found in the theoretical range of neither ancient or modern thought. Human beings as a whole can be established neither as beings with set attributes, nor as beings interacting with an abundance of objects. From an existentialist view, to know the truths of science is not enough to understand what exactly a human being is. Human beings cannot possibly be completely understood in terms of basic sciences, such as biology, psychology, physics, etc. They also cannot be understood in just a dualist, “mind and body” view. Existentialism does not reject the cogency of these categories, it just simply states that these cannot be the only traits examined, when trying to understand what it is to be a human. Neither moral theory nor scientific thinking is sufficient. Therefore, existentialism can be defined as “a 20th century philosophical movement embracing diverse doctrines but centering on analysis of individual existence in an unfathomable universe and the plight of the individual who must assume ultimate responsibility for acts of free will without any certain knowledge of what is right or wrong or good or bad” (Merriam-Webster).
What is human imperfection? Human imperfection is an imperfect detail or flaw. It is the quality or condition of being imperfect. When I look at the world we live in today, a lot of things have changed. By the way we order our food, to the communication between one another. The use of technology has made it easier to access unlimited amounts of information in our modern day world. Social media has impacted us by instantly receiving the latest news updates, fashion, and celebrity fame, all in the convenience of our cell phones. How could one argue that this world isn’t a perfect world? How could we say that we want more or be superior? Consequently, these things isn’t enough to satisfy our needs. Nevertheless, human imperfection
Pacht (1984) states that perfectionists are the ones who set high standards without any reason, and they try to accomplish their goals. The perfectionists think that in truth only exists extremes but there is no middle ground. For them percentage of success as a rate of 95% or higher is a failure because they have to be 100% perfect. For example if they were given a rate they will focus on the failure rate. Perfectionism can be explained as a desire to gain the high standards of performance. But perfectionists can not fulfill their expectations so they critise themselves (Pacht, 1984). Hamachek in 1978 (as cited in Schwarz, Gairret, Araguete, & Gold, 2005) found that there are two types of perfectionists: Normal and neurotic perfectionists. Normal perfectionists are the ones who can select pleasure in normal degrees from their occupations and they need approval from others just like anyone else. They think that it is a good way to give encouragement. Encouragement is needed to become better. Normal perfectionists are the normal form of perfectionism so they can concentrate on the good ways to gather perfectionism. They have quite normal expectations from themselves. Latter one wants more performance than they can do so they become unsatisfied because they think that they can not do better as anyone else. Neurotic perfectionists are not like normal perfectionist so they are not comfortable with their performance. There were non-pathological perfectionists and pathological perfectionists. Non-pathological perfectionists are the ones who can make big standards and they believe that it is essential for perfection. Pathological perfectionists are the ones who set standards and make decisions and they have a critical concern over mistak...
Practice makes perfect, right? This is a common phrase I heard growing up, and most of us have either heard or said this phrase at one point or another in our lives; maybe in regards to learning how to play a new instrument, or learning a new sport, even as simple of a thing as learning how to tie your shoes. But what is perfection? Perfection is to be without flaw, and as humans we all can agree that we all are flawed in one way or another. The affects of striving for perfection, while some say there are positive affects there is also a flip side to that which can lead to people struggling with depression and anxiety. In the twenty second century culture we are raised to strive for this unattainable perfection. The spectrum of pursing
Few words in the search of the optimal status of our daily existence, that is geared to search for the material perfection where the knowledge learned from academic books taken to the extreme, can be misinterpreted or frantically put to work twisting positive outcomes.