Yes-- if he
can get 100% on pretty much
anything he's offered, then that is not a sufficiently challenging educational environment for him to be in.
Because if that is true, then they will
probably develop one or more maladaptive perfectionistic strategies to provide appropriate challenge.
1. Classic driving perfectionism-- I must do everything perfect so that I am worthy, and then I may bask in my own glory. These are workaholic types.
2. outwardly directed (less common as a response to unchallenging environment)
or...
3. EVERYONE expects me to get 100%. All the time. If I do not get 100%, I have
failed. 100% = 'acceptable' and 'not 100%' = complete and total personal failure. Everyone will think I am horrible and unworthy and so will I. Some subtypes here use self-sabotage/handicapping and procrastination to avoid the risk of "failure." In other words, school/work refusal. This is socially prescribed perfectionism.
Number 3 is the killer version of perfectionism. I mean that quite literally, by the way-- this is the type most associated with disordered eating, with depression, and with other bad, bad, BAD outcomes.
It's also the kind that most perfectionistic introverts of very high ability seem most prone to developing in severely unchallenging settings. Why?
Well-intended adults in such settings constantly tell children "just do your best, dear..." which is GOOD advice for most children... but very, very, very bad advice for HG children in unchallenging settings. They KNOW that "best" is always 100%. They've learned this through ample empirical evidence. This global message from adults that they love and respect is
toxic, sadly-- because of the implications for them.
Ergo-- anything less than "100%" is what, then? Right. "Not your best work." Personal failure and failure to meet the expectations of EVERYONE who matters to them.
You can talk and talk and talk until you're blue in the face, by the way, but the belief that others are imposing an impossibly high standard is persistent-- in spite of anything you may say to refute it.
Now, my DD's perfectionism doesn't require for us to make sure that she cannot get A's. Just that earning them
requires really hard work. An A+ is not a guarantee even with that hard work.
Does that help?
