Our obsession with perfection is increasing: A comprehensive study of perfectionism involving young adults in the UK, U.S., and Canada revealed that perfectionistic tendencies and behaviors have significantly risen — up to 32% over the past three decades. Notable figures such as tennis superstar Serena Williams and prima ballerina Karen Kain have spoken about the insidious pressures to be perfect. They recount a perpetual cycle of dissatisfaction despite their success.