The Model of Excellencism and Perfectionism (MEP) propose a conceptual distinction between the pursuit of excellence and the pursuit of perfection. This study aimed to test some of the main postulates of the MEP, using causal graph analysis (Power Chain Graphs), in a sample of 400 Brazilian undergraduate students, with a mean age of 31.97 years, of whom 64.25% were women. The variables included excellencism and perfectionism, impostor phenomenon, academic burnout, and perfectionistic climate. Results showed that excellencism predicted perfectionism, but not the reverse, confirming the hierarchical relationship proposed by the MEP. Both excellencism and perfectionism were positively associated with the impostor phenomenon, which, in turn, predicted higher levels of burnout. The perfectionistic climate also directly predicted both perfectionism and burnout, suggesting that academic environments characterized by excessive control and high expectations foster perfectionistic tendencies and emotional exhaustion. Centrality analyses identified “Control” as the most influential variable and “Expectations” as the primary mediator among the observed relationships. These findings provide empirical support for the MEP postulates outside the Anglophone context, reinforcing its cross-cultural applicability. Moreover, the study highlights the relevance of institutional interventions to mitigate perfectionistic climates and promote healthier academic practices. • Excellencism precedes perfectionism in directional analyses. • Perfectionism predicts burnout via impostor phenomenon. • Perfectionistic climate exerts upstream effects on distress. • Findings support MEP beyond Anglophone contexts.
Mansur-Alves et al. (Tue,) studied this question.