The Qualitative Study Of Perfectionism Personality

This paper uses qualitative research methods with semi-structured interviews. The writer analyse the life story of individuals who show strong tendency of perfectionism (such respondents are selected after expert assessment and individual assessment) by using the model of life story (McAdams), and aim to explain and explore the common characteristics, to have an in-depth understanding and a whole picture of the process of perfectionists'dynamic personality development from the aspects of tone, imagery and theme of life story.Research results show as follows. Firstly, the perfectionist interviews show other characteristics such as stubborn hope to achieve the subjective objectives and standards and the tendency to exaggerate self besides the five factors suggested in ZNPQ. Secondly, the respondents believe that four reasons are included in the subjective perfectionism causes, which are parenting styles, growth environment, self-cultivation and innate character. Thirdly, on image level, respondents were likely to divide the life-story chapters by considering the different stages of education, most of which are related to interpersonal issues and academic performance. With repeated experience of the strong fluctuations in academic performance, it arouses intense senses of superiority or inferiority, which may be accompanied by a sense of achievement and provoke more intense perfect desire and furthermore, strengthen the perfectionist tendencies. Respondents were most likely to use a negative tone when it comes to interpersonal relationship and they are always in an isolate situation and feel hard to find true friendship. In the significant others of perfectionists'life-story, there will appear at least one "perfect image", which thus encourage the hero to pursue their "perfect state." At the script of future and personal ideological level, the heroes showed high expectations for the future. And most believe that some kind of supernatural power control the universe and life. So far as the pressure and problems are concerned, the extreme perfectionist often associated with various personality disorders, the most common for the narcissistic personality disorder and compulsive personality disorder. And some neurological disorders such as anxiety, depression, social phobia, somatoform disorders, eating disorders are also included. Fourthly, at the theme level, the negative tone perfectionist's life story theme focused on self-control, status and success, the right to grant, love and friendship, unity and attribution. On two major themes of agency and communion, the perfectionist will usually show that they are pursuing a powerful energy, a sense of control and status. Only in a state of balance of agency and communion, can a relatively healthy personality integrate.