The Perfectionist Predicament: How to Stop Driving Yourself and Others Crazy
Chronic dissatisfaction with oneself and others haunts perfectionists, whose obsessive behavior also visits misery on their employees or colleagues, family and friends, according to psychologists Elliott, a University of North Carolina professor, and Meltsner ( ISD: Inhibited Sexual Desire ). Contrasting seekers of excellence with perfectionists, the authors trace the latter group's compulsions to childhood roots and explain how their performance, self-image, relationships and morality are affected. The authors include self-tests, 14 reasons to "stop trying so hard" and other features typical of "addiction" self-help books. However, they also offer sensible advice to job-hunters whose excessive attention to form and detail may be self-defeating. Useful, too, are their recommendations that perfectionists attempt therapy and attend support groups, and their "survival strategies" for those who live or work with them. Author tour.Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.