Perfectionism

Although often overlooked in the clinical literature, perfectionism is one prominent regulatorystrategy for NPD self-esteem. Individuals with NPD have unrelenting standards for maintaining a sense of self-worth. People with narcissistic problems typically raise the bar after each accomplishment, which results in never-ending dissatisfaction. Their experience could therefore be described as looking towards heaven but anticipating a fall into the abyss when perfection is unmet (Dimaggio et al., 2002). Perfectionistic standards are also set for others, who are then derogated when they fail to meet these expectations. Perfection is almost the sole measure used by individuals with NPD to gauge their value and the only goal they consider worth reaching.