The myth of perfection: perfectionism in the obsessive personality.

Full Abstract

This paper discusses the structure and function of the trait of perfectionism within the obsessive personality, and how it dovetails with other features of that style. The author proposes a nuclear adaptive/defensive "myth of perfection" and delineates the phenomenology and clinical presentations of four problematic aspects of perfectionism: inhibitions, over concern with thoroughness and details, difficulty with decisions and commitments, and pickiness. The paper also discusses how several aspects of the obsessive style can present typical difficulties in doing therapy with perfectionists.

Author information

Author/s: Mallinger, Allan (A);

Affiliation: University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, USA. allanaem(-atsign-)aol.com

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Review

Journal: American journal of psychotherapy (Am J Psychother), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-; vol 63 (issue 2) : pp 103-31

Dates: Created 2009/08/28; Completed 2009/09/22;

PMID: 19711766, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 9/22/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.