Perfectionism and the Gifted Learner - PowerPoint Presentation

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Perfectionism and the Gifted LearnerBy: Linda Chambers, Claire McCall, Stacey Speicher and Tendayi Taylor

"The root of excellence is perfectionism. It is the driving force in the personality that propels the individual toward higher and higher goals. There is a strong correlation between perfectionism and giftedness. I have yet to meet a gifted person who wasn’t perfectionistic in some way."

Linda Kreger Silverman, PerfectionismSlide2

Parents and teachers of gifted children often report high correlations between gifted and perfectionism.As a whole, perfectionism involves envisioning ideals and striving for achievement. However, perfectionism can be viewed as having both productive and destructive aspects.

PRODUCTIVE

For a healthy perfectionist you will see a person whom is driven to do one’s best and finds pleasure and satisfaction with their own achievements. These students aim high to reach challenging goals and strive to fulfill their own potential. "Without perfectionism, there would be no Olympic champions, no great artistic endeavors, no scientific breakthroughs, no exquisite craftsmanship, no moral leaders. It is a basic drive to achieve excellence" (Silverman, 1993, pp. 58-59). DESTRUCTIVE Some students may have unrealistic or inflexible standards. They may describe success as a product or goal that is impossible to achieve. As a result, these students self esteem is largely based on achieving or not achieving success.

What is Perfectionism?Slide3

set performance standards that are impossibly high and unnecessarily rigid

they are motivated more from fear of failure rather than from the pursuit of success

the student may measure his/her own worth entirely in terms of productivity and accomplishment

they label anything other than perfection as failurethey have difficulty in taking credit or pleasure, even when success is achieved, because such achievement is what is expectedthey typically procrastinate in getting started on work that will be judged by others they take long delays in completing assignments, or repeatedly start over on assignments, because the work must be perfect from the beginning and continue to be perfect until the end they are unwilling to volunteer or respond to questions until they are absolute certain of the correct answer

these students can be overly emotional about minor failures

Common symptoms of student perfectionists: Slide4

Some research indicates that there can be a healthy aspect to perfectionism that leads people to strive for excellence.Healthy perfectionists:want to do their best

want order and organization

enjoy challenges

work and study to please themselvesare pleased when their efforts lead to successaccept and try to learn from their mistakesdo not give in to disappointment“Being a perfectionist could well be a good thing if it means having high standards, for high standards ultimately lead to high achievement” (Winner, 1996, p.215)Positive Aspects of PerfectionismSlide5

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Even earlier researchers were not convinced that perfectionism was a negative trait. Adler (1956) said “striving for perfection is innate in the sense that it is part of life, a striving, an urge, a something without which life would be unthinkable.” (Adler, 1956)Maslow (1970) said that reaching for perfection, the “full use and exploration of talents, capabilities, potentialities, etc.” indicates the absence, not the presence, of neurosis. (Maslow, 1970)

Positive Aspects of PerfectionismSlide7

“Perfectionism involves envisioning ideals and striving to achieve them.” - Mary Ann Swiatek, Ph.D.Although perfectionism can be positive, there are also negative aspects. Problems arise when goals or standards are so perfect they can never be achieved and perfection is expected on the first try. If perfectionism is not attained instantly it is perceived as a failure which can lead to dysfunction.

Dysfunctional Perfectionists:

feel frustrated

often disappointedlive in a state of anxiety about making errorshave extremely high standardslack effective coping strategies and exhibit a constant need of approvalNegatives of PerfectionismSlide8

"What is the difference between a healthy striving for excellence and a neurotic preoccupation with perfection?" —Wayne D. ParkerUnhealthy perfectionists work hard, not to please or to challenge themselves but to avoid failure.They often have low self-esteem and are sensitive to criticism from parents and teachers.

Several personality theorists believe that any perfectionism is detrimental to a student’s well-being. According to Dr. Thomas S. Greenspon, researchers confuse normal perfectionists with high achievers. High achievers may have perfectionist characteristics, but even these characteristics by themselves are unhealthy. Motivation, talent, hard work, and energy cause students to achieve success. Without these traits, perfectionism usually results in frustration and low self-esteem

Negatives of PerfectionismSlide9

First, teachers need to educate themselves on the signs of a perfectionist learner. Teachers need to determine if the perfectionism affects the student in a positive or negative way. If it is determined that the student is able to cope in a positive manner with high expectations of themselves, then foster that goal-setting characteristic.

Finding that the students copes in a negative manner then the teacher must explain the differences in high expectations and perfectionism. Observing any of the following indicates a negative impact on the student.

procrastinating in beginning an assignment

unwilling to share work with classmates/partnersfrustration with other students lack of perfectiona low tolerance for mistakes on their part of those of fellow classmatesOnce you determine a students needs help in navigating this trait, discuss with him/her goal-setting, past failures experienced by the teacher, an example of a famous person that once failed, but stayed the course to achieve success down the road. What role can teachers play?Slide10

provide time management/goal setting with the studentchunk assignments with an end date established and agreed upon

provide specific criteria for grading - rubric, examples of other superior work samples from previous students

allow some room for creativity to show through in work sample

use of a contract to encourage the underachieving studentencouragement to share within the groupsafe environment to allow the student to “fail” without a negative impact on his/her personalityencourage risk takingteach multiple problem solving skillsdo not give all assignments a number grade...sometimes pass/fail provides necessary feedbackcreate a neuter curriculum and environment for students to work comfortably inshow students how you are “real”...laugh at yourself, show that even you make mistakesmake sure students have an outlet to address social and emotional situations: journal writing, small group discussion, group projects with a variety of students, artistic outlets/choices

make sure some assignments are designed for the student to show improvement not perfection

Teacher’s role continuedSlide11

Speicherhttp://www.riage.org/articles/perfectionism-and-the-gifted-adolescent/

McCall: http://www.vtaide.com/png/ERIC/Perfectionist-Students.htm

http://www.cmu.edu/cmites/perfectionism.html

http://www.riage.org/articles/perfectionism-and-the-gifted-adolescent/?phpMyAdmin=ee86db1e541dbf3da717e9923b16c7adChambers:http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/perfectionism.htmhttp://www.riage.org/articles/perfectionism-and-the-gifted-adolescent/http://www.cmu.edu/cmites/perfectionism.htmlhttp://www.tip.duke.edu/node/613

ReferencesSlide12

Taylorhttp://www.cmu.edu/cmites/perfectionism.htmlhttp://www.riage.org/articles/perfectionism-and-the-gifted-adolescent/

http://www.tip.duke.edu/node/613

References