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Striving For Excellence Rather Than Perfection Improves Creativity
Ahhh the perfectionist trap!
Indeed, we know striving for perfection can have numerous downsides such as increase in burnout but also reduced engagement at work. But perfectionists are more likely to thrive academically and also achieve accomplishments — their perfectionism driving them along.
But not creativity as you said in the headline?
Well not according to this research published through the British Psychological Society by Jean-Christophe Goulet-Pelletier et al.
How did they do this?
They conducted two studies on 279 and 401 undergraduates and they were measured on a scale of perfectionism, divergent thinking, and openness to experience. The second study with the 401 undergraduates also included a scale of self-efficacy and creative self-efficacy.
And the results?
Those who classed themselves as high on striving for excellence scored higher on measures of creativity, with greater number and greater originality of ideas generated in the assessments. Conversely those who rated themselves as higher on perfectionism scored lower generating fewer and less original ideas.
Ok, kind of expected, no?
Kind of, but this actually hasn’t been studied…
