1Careful

Here the drive for perfection shows up as an effort to keep things under control and prepared. They worry a lot, plan, and look after the details. Of all the Perfectionists, they are the most self-critical; they keep their anger under wraps and come across as warm and kind on the outside.

Self-preservation Ones want things to work properly and safely. Their perfectionism isn't mainly about big ideals but about everyday life: whether the bills are paid, the place is tidy, everything is prepared and thought through. Behind it is a quiet but constant worry that if something isn't perfect, it will go wrong.

Of all the Ones, they are the most self-critical. They hardly ever show anger; they redirect it into work, into improving things, and into being hard on themselves. On the outside they therefore often come across as warm, pleasant, and helpful. But the inner critic doesn't stop talking even when everyone else can see that everything is fine.

• They plan ahead and have a backup in case something doesn't work out.
• They check details others overlook: invoices, deadlines, safety, tidiness.
• They find it hard to rest until the work is done.

They differ from the other Ones in that their attention is directed inward and toward practical matters. The social One wants to be a role model for the group and comes across as cooler and more teacherly. The one-to-one One wants to fix others, and their anger is visible. The self-preservation One mainly fixes themselves and their own world.