Honors College to Host Discussion on the Silent Struggle With Perfectionism

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Stanford Duck Syndrome. Penn Face. Students across universities have coined different names to identify the same dangerous attitude around high performance on campus. All these terms describe a struggle to endure the pressure of a competitive academic environment all while appearing unphased or at ease. 

What consequences does this mindset have for students, and how can they break the silence to get support? 

As part of the Pulse discussion series, the Honors College will present “When Perfectionism Is Perfect (And When It's Far From Perfect)," featuring clinical psychologist, TEDx speaker, author and podcast host Dr. Margaret Rutherford from 5-6:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 26, in Gearhart Hall 130.

“Join the Honors College for its second Pulse event of the spring 2024 semester and explore the secret history of depression, a tale affecting a broad population of ambitious scholars,” said Honors College Dean Lynda Coon.

Rutherford, an engaging mental health professional with over 30 years of experience, also hosts The SelfWork Podcast and is the author of Perfectly Hidden Depression: How to Break Free from the Perfectionism That Masks Your Depression. Her Pulse discussion will focus on how honors students might mask feelings of pain and isolation through perfectionistic performance and highly regulated emotions.

“At a time when college suicides are increasing exponentially, I’ll suggest ways in which students can balance the search for excellence with increased transparency and openness,” Rutherford noted. 

The Honors College Pulse discussion series began in 2016 following the presidential election and was named in remembrance of victims of the Pulse nightclub shootings. Since then, it has featured conversations around the Dakota Access Pipeline Project, the legal ramifications and decisions related to hate crimes, ways to fight local hunger and poverty as well as the war in Ukraine.

About the Honors College: The University of Arkansas Honors College was established in 2002 and brings together high-achieving undergraduate students and the university’s top professors to share transformative learning experiences. Each year the Honors College awards up to 90 freshman fellowships that provide $80,000 over four years, and more than $1 million in undergraduate research and study abroad grants. The Honors College is nationally recognized for the high caliber of students it admits and graduates. Honors students enjoy small, in-depth classes, and programs are offered in all disciplines, tailored to students’ academic interests, with interdisciplinary collaborations encouraged. All Honors College graduates have engaged in mentored research.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.