Coding Technological Perfection: Mechanisms for the Development and Validation of Digital Perfectionism

Pursuing perfection through technology in the digital world is increasingly common. To reflect users’ psychological behaviors in the digital age, particularly in AI-dominated environment, this study introduces digital perfectionism (DP), explaining how technology-saturated contexts shape individual goals and self-assessments. By integrating the inherent personal trait and external technological factors, this study views perfection pursuit as a dynamic sociotechnical process in the digital world. Technology creates new avenues and metrics for perfect performance (digital ideals) and validates progress toward them. Using typology analysis grounded in multidimensional perfectionism theory and dual process theory, this study developed and validated a DP scale in the workplace. Results reveal four DP dimensions: super striving, evaluative concerns, basic striving, and non-requirement perfectionism. These dimensions show differential associations with innovative job performance. By demonstrating how individuals form goals, self-monitor, and receive feedback within technologically configured frameworks, this study advances understanding of perfection phenomena in human-computer interaction.