The Perfection Trap

Perfectionism is a combination of high standards and harsh self-criticism. Tom Curran, sometimes known as Professor Happy, says that this quest for perfection is damaging our mental health. He was the first researcher to show that perfectionism was rising among young people. Perfectionists tend to be hyper-vigilant for other people's approval because they don't feel inside good enough. And seeking of others' approval leads us to want to be perfect which inherently sets us up for failure.