<p>This essay explores how perfectionist and obsessive-compulsive personalities construct “fortresses” to avoid humiliation, embarrassment, and shame. Through vivid stories and cultural examples—from Steve Jobs to Michael Jackson—it identifies four compulsive types (Boss, Workaholic, People-Pleaser, and Obsessor) and shows how their strategies both protect and imprison them.</p>

This essay explores how perfectionist and obsessive-compulsive personalities construct “fortresses” to avoid humiliation, embarrassment, and shame. Through vivid stories and cultural examples—from Steve Jobs to Michael Jackson—it identifies four compulsive types (Boss, Workaholic, People-Pleaser, and Obsessor) and shows how their strategies both protect and imprison them.

Ep. 101: 4 Ways Perfectionists and Obsessive-Compulsives Try To Avoid Humiliation

For five years The Healthy Compulsive Project has been offering information, insight and inspiration for OCPD, obsessive-compulsive personality, perfectionism, micro-managers and Type A personality.  Anyone who’s ever been known to overwork, overplan, overcontrol or overanalyze is welcome here, where the obsessive-compulsive personality is explored and harnessed to deliver what it was originally meant to deliver. Join psychotherapist, Jungian psychoanalyst and author Gary Trosclair as he delves into the pitfalls and potential of the driven personality with an informative, positive, and often playful approach to this sometimes-vexing character style.

Health & Fitness

Mental Health

Education

Self-Improvement

For five years The Healthy Compulsive Project has been offering information, insight and inspiration for OCPD, obsessive-compulsive personality, perfectionism, micro-managers and Type A personality. Anyone who’s ever been known to overwork, overplan, overcontrol or overanalyze is welcome here, where the obsessive-compulsive personality is explored and harnessed to deliver what it was originally meant to deliver. Join psychotherapist, Jungian psychoanalyst and author Gary Trosclair as he delves into the pitfalls and potential of the driven personality with an informative, positive, and often playful approach to this sometimes-vexing character style.

Share Ep. 101: 4 Ways Perfectionists and Obsessive-Compulsives Try To Avoid Humiliation

Sign up to save your podcasts

Ep. 101: 4 Ways Perfectionists and Obsessive-Compulsives Try To Avoid Humiliation

Ep. 101: 4 Ways Perfectionists and Obsessive-Compulsives Try To Avoid Humiliation

More shows like The Healthy Compulsive Project

This American Life

Radiolab

Freakonomics Radio

The OCD Stories

10% Happier with Dan Harris

Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson

The Daily

Up First from NPR

Interesting Times with Ross Douthat

Clearer Thinking with Spencer Greenberg

The Ezra Klein Show

This is Ashlynn

Search Engine

The Dr. Psych Mom Show with clinical psychologist Dr. Samantha Rodman Whiten

The Headlines