August 10, 2023

114. Escaping the "Perfection Trap": Dr. Thomas Curran (Prof. of Psychology @ London School of Economics and author of "The Perfection Trap")

24 minutes

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In our culture, perfectionism is considered a valiant weakness. And, it is worn as a badge of honor. Saying that you are a perfectionist implies that you are constantly working to better yourself and your project. You unrelentingly strive for the best possible result. You work so hard that it might require others to step in and say, “This is good enough.” It’s a valuable vice in the workspace.

Or…so we thought.

According to professor of psychology and leading expert on perfectionism, Dr. Thomas Curran, perfectionism is more a culturally accelerated poison than its shiny exterior lets on. Whether we like it or not, we will all stumble, fall, and fail at some point in our lives. To deal with this reality requires breaking out of the “perfection trap.”

Topics:

Defining "perfectionism" and its poisonous nature
How Western cultures amplify perfectionism
Origins of perfectionism
Perfectionism as a worldview
Dealing with questions of worth and identity as a perfectionist
How to escape the "perfection trap"
"What books have had an impact on you?"
"What advice do you have for teenagers?"

Dr. Thomas Curran is a professor of psychology at the London School of Economics and author of a landmark study that the BBC hailed as “the first to compare perfectionism across generations.” His TED talk on perfectionism has received more than three million views. His research has been featured in media ranging from the Harvard Business Review to New Scientist to CNN and he has appeared on numerous television and radio programs. He is the author of The Perfection Trap.

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