Optimization in the Digital Era: Trajectories of Perfection and Their Paradoxes

Vera King

15 apr 2025

5 min read

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The pursuit of perfection is a theme that has accompanied humankind for centuries, but during the digital age, it has taken new and often unexplored shapes. In this context, the constant improvement of oneself is not just a practical purpose but a cultural imperative that permeates every aspect of our daily lives, from work to relationships to body care. With the emergence of a “culture of optimization”, digitalization has allowed us to track every aspect of our existence, leading both to new opportunities and paradoxical alienations. This phenomenon, fed by social media, produced a vicious circle of stress and dissatisfaction, where the idea of “constant improvement” collides with human limits. 

There is a need to redefine our goals by adopting a more balanced perspective that makes room for vulnerability, failure, and the importance of living a more authentic life. The challenge is to move from the continued pursuit of perfection to growth that enhances our potential without losing sight of our intrinsic value. 

Vera King

Vera King has been Professor of Sociology and Psychoanalytic Social Psychology at the Goethe University in Frankfurt since 2016 and carries out her academic work in the Department of Social Sciences and the Institute of Sociology.

Since that year, he has also taken over as director of the Sigmund Freud Institut.

In addition to her academic work, Vera King is also a leading figure in numerous interdisciplinary research projects, such as the project “Aporias of Perfection in Accelerated Modernity”, and has held editorial positions in international scientific journals including the Journal of Social

and Political Psychology, Psychoanalysis, Culture & Society and Social Psychology Quarterly.

His scholarly contributions continue to profoundly influence the fields of sociology, psychoanalysis and social psychology, with a significant impact on contemporary social and cultural theories.

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