These people are considered perfectionists. Many college students are perfectionists. Perfectionism is not the healthy pursuit of excellence, as most people tend to believe, but rather it is the compulsive striving toward unrealistic goals, declares psychiatrist David Burns.
Perfectionists believe compulsive striving is necessary for success.
In fact, studies suggest that perfectionists are often less productive and successful, and experience more stress and anxiety than their co-workers. First of all, be aware of the difference between setting high personal standards and perfectionism. Secondly, learn to focus on your successes rather than perceived failures. And finally, your worth as a person is not determined solely by your accomplishments. The Counseling Center for Human Development can help you discover the difference between self-defeating perfectionism and the healthy pursuit of excellence.