Date of Award

Spring 5-16-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Major

Expressive Therapies

First Advisor

Jason D. Butler, PhD, RDT/BCT

Abstract

This conceptual synthesis of the literature examines the relationship between pathological and non-pathological yet distressing perfectionism as well as play and improvisation in the context of Developmental Transformations (DvT) as a therapeutic intervention. With the support of research operationalizing perfectionism and its impacts on daily functioning, a connection between increasing cognitive flexibility and uncertainty tolerance is explored through the lenses of improvisation, dramatic play, and DvT. Through critical analyses, supporting literature has been explored by noting both implications and limitations of each study. Perfectionism, dramatic play, improvisation, and Developmental Transformations (DvT) are explored independently before an intersection is proposed and examined. The literature suggests that an increase of cognitive flexibility and uncertainty tolerance in an embodied context could decrease the distress caused by perfectionism and its associated impacts. Core elements of DvT such as embodied encounter, prime discrepancy, faithful rendering, emergence or divergence, and reversibility play a key role in this method’s application to perfectionism. Moving past recreational improvisation, DvT provides a therapeutic framework for this type of exploration indicating that it could serve as a vehicle for transformation and symptom reduction in those affected by perfectionistic traits.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

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