When a child, or rather, a teenager, sets excessively high standards for themselves, fears making mistakes, and suffers from not meeting the expectations they believe others have, we're talking about excessive demands or, as professionals know it, dysfunctional perfectionism. This shouldn't be confused with its healthy counterpart. Adaptive self-demand leads to better performance, both academically and athletically, as well as in other areas of a young person's life, because it fosters a desire for constant improvement, develops responsibility and commitment, and ultimately leads to better organization and intrinsic motivation. However, if it's dysfunctional, it affects and conditions the young person's daily life, requiring intervention. Although it occurs in both genders, dysfunctional excessive demands are more common in girls than in boys, due to their tendency to anticipate, strive for perfection, and seek control.