Are bright children more likely to be perfectionistic?

[lljkk]

and if so, why? Because they are brighter are they more aware of the imperfections in what they do? Or is a heightened awareness that makes them pay more attention to what's happening and then they work harder to get it 'right'? Chicken & egg question, I guess...
just idle wondering, really!

[BoysAreLikeDogs]

Or is it that parents have higher expectations of a cleverer child and communicate that to the child wittingly or unwittingly?

[Hulababy]

No, I don't think so. It is peerfectly possible to be very bright and not always have to do everything perfect ad just right. Many very bright children, and adults, are happy to coast and not push themselves.

[TheFallenMadonna]

Or take a chance of getting things wrong.

I think high achievers are often perfectionists. But that's not the same thing.

[ramonaquimby]

dd is bright and an extreme perfectionist with everything it's becoming a problem now esp at school where she is choosing not to accept help when faced with something she hasn't seem before or if she's going about something the wrong way and I suggest another way of tackling it she closes up completely. with her art work too - everything has to be 'just so' - this has always been the case from when she started drawing and painting. I think she's afraid of getting it wrong/making a mistake.

but I don't think there's a (scientific) correlation

[brimfull]

I know plenty of dim perfectionists

and plenty of bright children who are lazy and slapdash

don't think you can generalise.

[tiggerlovestobounce]

I dont think there is any correlation. Though I suppose a child who is bright and a perfectionist may be noticed more for being 'bright' than someone who is just as clever, but who doesnt push themselves to turn out perfect work.

[roisin]

I think it depends on environment actually. Bright children soon get used to 'getting everything right'. If they are not adequately and regularly challenged (this doesn't need to happen in school) and if adults praise them on the basis of the end outcome, rather than the process, effort, concentration, etc. involved; then they are more likely to develop perfectionist tendencies.

My boys do aim high, but they are not perfectionist - in the sense that they do not screw up their work if it doesn't look right, etc.

[cory]

I think some are, some aren't. And not all perfectionists are very bright either.