The Perfectionistic Cheerleader
I’ve heard many cheerleading coaches use the term “perfectionist” when describing a (usually anxious) cheerleader. And just the other day a cheerleader wrote to me and said she was a perfectionist. Before that, a cheer mom told me her daughter was a perfectionist.
Ok, so what exactly is a perfectionist and is it really a problem? Turns out this is a more complex dilemma than you would think!
Now I admit that psychologists can be good at making things more complicated than they need to be but in this case, the research makes sense. Please bear with me and read on…
First, sport psychologists make the distinction between perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns. There is an important difference!
Perfectionistic Concerns are preoccupations with making mistakes, parental expectations, parental criticism, and coach’s expectations and criticisms. As might be expected, athletes who score high on this dimension have a high fear of failure. These athletes also tend to have problems with depression, anxiety and avoidance.
Coaches and parents communicate the standards of what is acceptable in performance situations. They provide feedback and evaluation to the athletes about their abilities and performances. Because of this, their criticisms and expectations are a source of pressure and concern for athletes.
For the athlete who has Perfectionistic Concerns, the words and behaviors of parents and coaches are weighed heavily. It’s important to note that these athletes might PERCEIVE criticisms and feedback as being harsher than it is objectively communicated.
Perfectionistic Strivings relate to a desire to excel and are accompanied by high personal standards of success. These athletes tend to be more self confident and have a positive approach to practice and goal-setting as long as they have some capacity to accept minor imperfections. When they demand perfection in all things, they fare less well.
Stay tuned for more on this topic…
By the way…it’s competition season! Learn all about the Mental Game of Competitions here! Don’t miss out!
Tags: cheerleader, cheerleaders, Cheerleading, perfectionism