Defining success in medicine: why perfectionism is not the answer

Defining success in medicine: why perfectionism is not the answer

Perfectionism comprises internally motivated beliefs that striving for perfection and being perfect are important. Self-oriented perfectionists have exceedingly high personal standards, strive for perfection, expect to be perfect and are highly self-critical of themselves if they fail to meet these expectations, often with devastating consequences.1 2

Perfectionism is a set of internally motivated beliefs that being perfect is important. A perfectionist has extremely high self-standards and is highly self-critical if they fall short of these. Yet, today, calling someone a perfectionist has become somewhat of a cliché, especially within medicine. It may even be considered an aspiration or a desirable trait. This is of course a fallacy.

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