In this week's episode, I discuss achievement culture, what it is, who it impacts, and its causes. Using Emily Sohn's article "Perfectionism and the High Stakes Cost of Success: The Hidden Toll on Parents and Kids" in Monitor on Psychology, I talk about the pressures and expectations that can lead to perfectionism, anxiety, and burnout in kids.

Achievement culture, fueled by social media, parental anxiety, and societal expectations, can create an environment where children feel like they're never good enough, which often leads to anxiety, depression, and perfectionism.

Researchers have identified three types of perfectionism: self-oriented perfectionism, a version that describes people who set high self-standards and then strive to reach them; other-oriented perfectionism, which describes the projection of unrealistically high standards onto other people; and socially prescribed perfectionism, which is the perception that other people expect you to be perfect and that you need to meet that demand to get acceptance and approval.

An achievement culture fueled by social media, parental anxiety, and societal expectations can create an environment where children feel like they're never good enough.

We'll examine competitive extracurricular activities, and the pursuit of academic excellence on a child's self-esteem, stress levels, and overall happiness.

Next week, we will discuss what can be done about it and how to build resilience and immunity to the harmful effects of achievement culture.

⁠Perfectionism and the high-stakes culture of success: The hidden toll on kids and parents