About the Book
Perfectionism is growing more prevalent among young people today, with increasing numbers of children admitting they feel pressure to be, or appear to be, perfect.
This book describes perfectionism's mental health costs and effects on achievement, explaining the myriad and often surprising ways children and adolescents exhibit perfectionism in their family, school, and social environments. Most important, the authors suggest clinical interventions to help perfectionistic children regain perspective, and accept their limitations.
Authors Gordon L. Flett and Paul L. Hewitt expertly summarize relevant studies, demonstrating that perfectionism is pernicious and requires a complex and multi-faceted approach to prevention and treatment. A clinically-focused section rounds out the book, with concrete steps counselors and educators can take to help build resilience and adaptability.
2 23 Prose Award Finalist
Table of Contents:
Introduction: Perfectionism in Childhood and Adolescence
Part I. Perfectionism: A Multifaceted Construct
Chapter : Core Themes and Definitions
Chapter 2: Perfectionism in Children and Adolescents: A Historical Perspective
Chapter 3: The Emergence and Prevalence of Perfectionism in Children
Chapter 4: The Comprehensive Model of Perfectionistic Behavior in Children and Adolescents
Chapter 5: Keys to Understanding Perfectionistic Children
Chapter : Measures of Perfectionism
Part II. The Development of Perfectionism and its Expression in Academic and Social Contexts
Chapter 7: The Development of Perfectionism
Chapter 8: Perfectionism and Problems in Learning, Performance, and Achievement
Chapter 9: Interpersonal and Psychosocial Aspects of Perfectionism
Part III. Clinical Considerations
Chapter : Perfectionism and Depression
Chapter : Perfectionism and the Suicidal Adolescent
Chapter 2: The Treatment of Perfectionism in Children and Adolescents
Chapter 3: Building Adaptability and Resilience in the Perfectionistic Child
References
Index
About the Authors
About the Author :
Gordon L. Flett, PhD is professor in the department of psychology at York University in Toronto, Canada, where he holds a Canada Research Chair in Personality amp amp Health and is also director of the LaMarsh Centre for Child and Youth Research. Dr. Flett is most recognized for his seminal contributions to research and theory on the role of perfectionism in pathology. His other research interests include the study of feelings of mattering to others in health and well-being, and the nature and correlates of suicidality in the elderly. Dr. Flett is a Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science, which has cited him as one of the top 25 most productive authors in psychology.
Paul L. Hewitt, PhD is a professor in the department of psychology at the University of British Columbia. He is a registered clinical psychologist, and his research focuses primarily on personality vulnerabilities and their implications for psychological difficulties among adults, adolescents, and children. Dr. Hewitt is a fellow of the Canadian Psychological Association and of the Association's Section on Clinical Psychology. He was cited as one of the top Canadian clinical psychology professors for research productivity, and was awarded the Donald O. Hebb Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychology as a Science by the Canadian Psychological Association. Dr. Hewitt has published over 3 research papers, books, and chapters on perfectionism, psychopathology, and psychotherapy.
Review :
Flett and Hewitt have been at the forefront of research on perfectionism for more than 3 years. This book contains a thorough and well-researched summary of what they and others have learned about perfectionism in children, including its key features, how it develops, in what contexts it occurs, and how to treat it. This will be the go-to resource on perfectionism in children and adolescents. - Randy O. Frost, PhD, Harold and Elsa Siipola Israel Professor Emeritus, Smith College, Northampton, MA, United States Flett and Hewitt have done a thorough job of explaining the conceptual models and empirical evidence around the construct of perfectionism, in ways that are clear and easy to digest. - Suniya S. Luthar, PhD, Founder & Executive Director, AC Groups, and Professor Emerita, Columbia University's Teachers College, New York, NY, United States Flett and Hewitt are the established experts in understanding perfectionism as a multidimensional factor in health, well-being, and, now, development. This book provides essential information to the educator, clinician, and parent in addressing a child amp rsquo s developing perfectionism. With nearly 2 % of U.S. high school youth seriously thinking about suicide, and an alarming increase in suicidality among Black girls in particular, this research empowers our capacity to do resilience and harm prevention work. - Christine Wekerle, PhD, Associate Professor, Pediatrics and Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Here, eminent authorities on perfectionism provide an essential guide and comprehensive account of key theory, research, and practice issues. A must-read for anyone interested in perfectionism and those who work with children and adolescents. - Professor Andrew P. Hill, York St John University, York, United Kingdom This book is invaluable for clinicians, researchers, students, and practitioners trying to navigate the perfectionism literature and learn how best to prevent the development of perfectionism and promote psychological well-being in perfectionistic children and young people. It is destined to become the standard reference on perfectionism in children and young people. - Tracy C. Donachie, PhD, CPsychol, FHEA, Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology, Newcastle University, York, United Kingdom
