Perfectionism can be seen as a positive trait. It drives people to do a good job and to set high standards, and it may lead to headlines and praise. However, the list of positives probably ends there. A list of negatives is much longer.
Perfectionism does not encourage risk-taking, whether academic, personal, or social. It is hard for perfectionists to enjoy the present, the "process," or a job well done because of a preoccupation with "product" and "next time." They are self-critical, competitive, and critical of others, and their perfectionism often interferes with relationships.
Perfectionists are often preoccupied with others' expectations or the expectations within themselves. They often set impossible and unrealistic goals and they tend to feel their worth in what they do, rather than in just "being." Many are prone to depression.
We probably want our surgeon, or dentist, our banker, and our mechanic to be perfectionists in their work, but we probably don't want to have a perfectionist for a roommate, to be married to one, or to be taught by one.
Many gifted students are perfectionistic and highly self-critical. They need to discuss perfectionism, as they are sometimes debilitated by it both in the academic world and in their personal lives. Sometimes gifted individuals do not achieve in school because they feel they cannot perform at a certain level of perfection or because they refuse to be involved in a situation that is not "ideal." If they are high achievers, perfectionism can interfere with their ability to enjoy life, as well as cause high stress. Acceptance and love in relationships might be seen as conditional.
Perfectionism can come in many forms. It can demand a spotless house, closet, or room; an unblemished piece of writing; an unflawed relationship; an ideal day; a perfect performance; a test with no errors; a perfect friend; no attempt until success can be assured; a perfect product. It causes great tension.
The perfectionist cycle can be broken, first by recognizing the tendencies, and then by encouraging new experiences, participation in "ungraded" activities, self-talk about not connecting worth to performance, reducing compulsive planning, conscious acceptance of less-than-perfect.