Does Religion Lead to More or Less Perfectionism?

Keywords

toxic perfectionism, religious identity, student mental health

Abstract

During a university meeting at the beginning of the school year, a therapist was facilitating a helpful discussion on student mental health. When toxic perfectionism came up, the facilitator mentioned in an offhanded way that we have a particular problem with this at Brigham Young University because of “the gospel.”

This statement was not much of a surprise given the seemingly common attitude that BYU students (and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in general) struggle with perfectionism. Some have even suggested Latter-day Saints struggle more with perfectionism than those of other faiths — including a podcaster who called Latter-day Saints a “notoriously perfectionistic population.”

Original Publication Citation

Does Religion Lead to More or Less Perfectionism? Justin Dyer & Mike Goodman (January 4, 2025) https://www.deseret.com/faith/2025/01/04/faith-and-perfectionism/

Document Type

Other

Publication Date

2025

Publisher

Deseret News

Language

English

College

Religious Education

Department

Church History and Doctrine

University Standing at Time of Publication

Full Professor

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