According to psychologist Linda Blair, “Perfectionists are those who strive for flawlessness, for a perfect creation, outcome or performance. They set excessively high standards.”
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Many studies show that this self-critical tendency exists mainly in women. A US survey conducted in 2009 corroborates this, showing that many more women than men feel inadequate in their work and home lives. The desire to be perfect can be traced back to childhood when girls are taught that perfection is something to strive for.