Yorkshire Philosophical Society

Event Information

“The Psychology of Perfectionism and Everyday Life”

Professor Andy Hill, York St John University

Overview – Perfectionism is a misunderstood trait and its influence on our lives underappreciated. This talk will draw on a career spent studying perfectionism in different populations and contexts to illustrate its important consequences. This includes its influence on our work and home lives, how well we deal with setbacks, as well as our physical and mental health. Attendees will certainly learn about perfectionism and, perhaps, even, the joys of just doing things well.

7pm in the Tempest Anderson Lecture Theatre in the Yorkshire Museum on Tuesday 27 January 2026.

YPS Members and students free, non members £5.

Members report:

Perfectionism is not good for our health and well-being, particularly our mental health. However, we seem to be getting more perfectionist, with rates doubling over the last two decades and expected to rise even further from 18 to 27% in the next decade. In fact, perfectionism is surprisingly common and increasingly so, despite the costs outweighing the benefits for many people most of the time. Many individual studies, as well as meta-analyses grouping large numbers of studies, have demonstrated this to be the case for academic, sporting and workplace performance. Young people, in particular, are experiencing higher levels of clinically relevant perfectionism and are ill-prepared when things do not go to plan. So what is to be done? Accept your limitations, value your own abilities, improve your self-worth. Do what you can even if perfection cannot be achieved. Nobody is perfect, least of all the perfectionists.

Roger Pinder