The Relationship Between Patient Perfectionism and Their Self-Perception

Introduction. Modern society is increasingly influenced by the ideals of perfectionism, particularly concerning appearance and aesthetic standards, which has a profound impact on individual identity. In contemporary society, appearance holds significant importance, especially regarding personal and professional goals. Perfectionism, often accompanied by high levels of neuroticism and emotional instability, can lead individuals to impose unrealistic demands on their appearance and to focus intensely on its flaws. Studying patients’ self-perception of their facial appearance, particularly those seeking aesthetic medical services, and subsequently examining the impact of this aspect on doctor- patient interactions is crucial for developing objective methods for assessing facial aesthetic flaws and improving communication in medical practice.

Objective. The aim of this study is to identify the peculiarities of self-face perception in patients with high levels of perfectionism and its components.

Methods. The study utilized eye-tracking methodology with the use of the Neuroburo software- hardware complex.

Results. The study revealed that the level of perfectionism can influence the perception of one’s own face and parameters of oculomotor activity related to viewing attractive and unattractive features. Eye-tracking parameters analyzed included the average saccade amplitude, time to first fixation on subjectively attractive and unattractive features, and the number of returns to these features. Correlational analysis identified a relationship between self-oriented perfectionism and the number of fixations before the first fixation on attractive features, reflecting increased attention to flaws. Self-oriented perfectionism was negatively correlated with the duration of the first fixation on attractive features, while socially prescribed perfectionism was related to the average saccade amplitude. These findings suggest that the level of perfectionism can influence self-perception of facial appearance and eye movements.

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