What actually is perfectionism?

In sport, it’s often treated as a positive trait—high standards, attention to detail, relentless work ethic. But this episode breaks down a foundational paper that challenges that assumption.

Based on A Dual Process Model of Perfectionism (Slade & Owens, 1998), this episode explores how perfectionism isn’t one single construct, but two fundamentally different processes:

– One driven by the pursuit of success
– The other driven by the avoidance of failure

Same behavior, different system.

• Positive vs negative perfectionism

• Reinforcement theory (why athletes do what they do)

• Approach vs avoidance behavior

• How perfectionism develops over time

• Why two athletes can look identical, but experience performance very differently

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