Perfectionism in theory and research

Abstract

Purpose
 The purpose of the present article is to systematize knowledge about perfectionism - the relatively stable tendency to set unrealistic expectations for oneself or others. The article reviews studies conducted in recent years and presents the evolution of views on the development and importance of perfectionism for individual adjustment.
 Theses
 Knowledge about perfectionism is constantly expanding, which makes it necessary to describe the history of the study of this phenomenon, the evolution of ways of thinking, and the theoretical models that have emerged over the past decades. There are relatively few publications on this subject in the Polish literature, and the presented article aims to at least partially fill this gap. We present the results of a study on the relationship between perfectionism and important areas of human functioning, such as health, work and interpersonal relations, and point out factors associated with the development of this characteristic. We also present the most popular measures of perfectionism.
 Conclusion
 Perfectionism, initially viewed as an unambiguously negative disposition and treated as a predictor of psychopathology, in light of studies conducted in recent years should be treated as a complex personality characteristic that manifests itself manifests itself in different manner, including positive and adaptive ones.