PECULIARITIES OF PERFECTIONISM MANIFESTATION IN STUDENT-AGE INDIVIDUALS

Abstract

Modern society is characterized by the intensive development of social interaction, which is evident in the active involvement of young people in social networks and communication apps. This trend is accompanied by a growing desire to reach new heights, to be perfect and successful, to follow personal ideals, and to achieve set goals in a short time. This aspiration is generally positive, as it motivates young individuals to learn and improve themselves. However, it can also lead to excessively high self-demands, dissatisfaction with one’s life, undervaluing personal achievements, knowledge, and skills, and developing hostility toward anything that does not meet one’s own or society’s defined standards. This article is devoted to exploring the peculiarities of perfectionism among individuals of student age, which is a pressing issue in the context of rapidly evolving social interaction and the drive for success in modern society. Through theoretical analysis, the concept of “perfectionism” has been operationalized; its structure, types, and consequences have been identified; and both its constructive and destructive manifestations in student life have been defined. Constructive perfectionism – such as persistence, the ability to set challenging tasks, and maintain a high level of motivation – contributes to students’ academic success. In contrast, destructive perfectionism, which arises under the pressure of fear of mistakes and unattainable goals, leads to stress, emotional burnout, and a decline in self-confidence. The conducted empirical study aimed to identify the dominant characteristics of perfectionism among students with different sibling positions. It has been proven that there are differences between student groups with the sibling positions of “only child”, “youngest child”, “middle child”, and “oldest child” in terms of overall perfectionism levels, self-oriented perfectionism, striving for order, and organizational tendencies.