This article builds on our previous work entitled “Reframing the Perfectionists' ‘Catch-22’ Dilemma: A systems thinking approach” (Ramsey & Ramsey, 2003) which explored the dynamic complexity of perfectionism using a systems thinking approach. Here we present anecdotal accounts of our attempts to provoke fundamental change among gifted adolescent females. These interventions use improvisation exercises to challenge the world view of perfectionist thinking. In addition, and counter to prevailing approaches, the perfectionists are encouraged to raise rather than lower their standards in an attempt to support a more balanced and sustainable life.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AdderholdtM.GoldbergJ. (1999). Perfectionism: What's Bad About Being Too Good?Minneapolis:Free Spirit Publishing Inc.
2.
BarrowJ. C.MooreC. A. (1983). Group interventions with perfectionistic thinking. The Personnel and Guidance Journal, June, 612–615.
3.
BurnsD. (1999). Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy. New York:Avon Books.
4.
BurnsD. (1980). The perfectionist's script for self-defeat. Psychology Today, November34–52.
5.
FestingerL. (1957). A Theory of Cognitive Dissonance. Evanston, IL:Row Peterson.
6.
GallweyT. (2000). The Inner Game of Work. New York:Random House.
7.
GreensponT.S. (2000). “Healthy perfectionism“ is an oxymoron! Reflections on the psychology of perfectionism and the sociology of science. The Journal of Secondary Gifted Education. Summer. 197–208.
8.
KanterR. M. (2002). Improvisational theatre. MIT Sloan Management Review, 43(2) 76–81.
9.
KerrB.A. (1994). Smart Girls: A new psychology of girls, women and giftedness. Dayton Ohio:Ohio University Press.
10.
KirkP. (2000). Corporate evolution and the chaos advantage. The Systems Thinker, 10(10) 1–5.
11.
NewtonB. (1999). Improvisation: Use what you know-make up what you don't!Scotsdale AZ:Gifted Psychology Press.
12.
QuindlenA. (2005). Being Perfect. New York:Random House.
13.
RamseyD. (2002). Perfectionism: A Group Intervention with Gifted Females. Masters' Thesis, Massey University.
14.
RamseyD.RamseyP. (2003). Reframing the perfectionists' ‘Catch-22’ dilemma: A systems thinking approach. The Journal for the Education of the Gifted, 26(2).
15.
ReisS.M. (1987). We can't change what we don't recognise: Understanding the special needs of gifted females. Gifted Child Quarterly. 31(2) 83–89.
16.
ShafranR.CooperZ.FairburnC.G. (2002). Clinical perfectionism: A cognitive-behavioural analysis. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 40(7), 773–791.
17.
SilvermanL. (1993). Counseling the Gifted and Talented. Colorado:Love Publishing Co.
