Fractionals

I came across that article the other day and thought that it was really interesting. My parents praised my efforts, but I was also told by my teachers and other adults how smart I was. My parents praised us not for getting good results, but for achieving the most possible with what we had going in. So now, my feelings of inadequacy are not about not being smart enough, but of not doing my best because I'm not working hard enough, and feeling guilty about wasting what effort I do put in.

I definitely identified with the kids who are told they're smart and so as a result shy away from things they find difficult... I can't remember how my parents and teachers praised me, exactly, but I do remember thinking "I'm smart, so if I can't do this without very much work it's not worth doing" or some line of bullshit like that.

I'd place very good money on my particular strain of perfectionism arising from that.