Flaws in flawlessness: Perfectionism as a new technology driven mental disorder

Today, technologies, devices and systems play a major role in our lives. Anecdotal commentary suggests that such technologies and our interactions with them create a false sense of perfectionism about life, events and its outcomes. While it is admirable to strive for better outcomes; constant and sometimes unrealistic expectations create a psychological condition commonly known as 'Perfectionism'- the fear of not doing something right or the fear of not being good enough. In this paper, based on the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III), we conceptualize 'digital perfectionism' as an emerging disorder, that is specific to our increasing interactions with tools and technologies. By using a sample of 336 individuals, this study makes valuable early insights on digital perfectionism, its conceptualization and its effects on the individuals.