10 Different Types of Perfectionists

1. The all-round perfectionist: This perfectionist strives for perfection in all areas of life, including work, relationships, hobbies, and personal achievements.

   
   

2. The achievement-oriented perfectionist: This perfectionist mainly focuses on achieving perfect results and performance. They set high standards for themselves and feel dissatisfied when they do not excel.

   
   

3. The self-critical perfectionist: This type of perfectionist is constantly critical of themselves and looks for mistakes and shortcomings. They tend to judge themselves harshly and struggle to appreciate themselves.

   
   

4. The procrastinating perfectionist: This perfectionist tends to postpone tasks because they are afraid of failing or not meeting their own high expectations. They wait for the “perfect” moment to begin, which often leads to procrastination.

   
   

5. The relationship-focused perfectionist: This perfectionist strives for perfection in relationships and has high expectations of themselves and others. They always want to be the best partner, friend, or parent and feel frustrated when they believe they fall short.

   
   

6. The neurotic perfectionist: This type of perfectionist experiences a lot of anxiety and stress in their pursuit of perfection. They constantly worry about making mistakes and struggle to relax or feel satisfied.

   
   

7. The self-conscious perfectionist: This perfectionist is very aware of how they come across to others and wants to make a perfect impression. They are sensitive to criticism and quickly feel insecure or rejected.

   
   

8. The idealistic perfectionist: This perfectionist has a strong sense of idealism and strives for perfection in line with their ideals and values. They tend to feel disappointed when reality does not match their idealistic vision.

   
   

9. The creative perfectionist: This type of perfectionist strives for perfection in their artistic or creative expression. They are very critical of their work and tend to slow down their creative process by aiming for perfection.

   
   

10. The external perfectionist: This perfectionist strives for perfection to meet the expectations of others. They feel pressured to be perfect because of social norms or the expectations of their environment.

    
    

It is important to note that these types are not strictly separate, and many people may show characteristics of several different types of perfectionists. But whichever type of perfectionist you are, it is possible to work on your perfectionistic tendencies. If you would like to do so, click here for strategies and exercises.