The Truth About Criticism
Before writing this article, I decided to search the internet to see how the phenomenon of “criticism” is described and understood. There is so much information that I found myself wondering: “Is it even necessary to write another article on this topic?”
Originally, criticism meant analysis, evaluation, and judgment of phenomena in any area of human activity. The main purposes of criticism were:
- Identifying contradictions
- Finding and analyzing mistakes
- Analyzing and discussing something to provide an assessment (for example, literary criticism)
- Judging something (in art, public life, etc.), pointing out shortcomings, and seeking ways to address them
- Researching and scientifically verifying the authenticity of something (for example, textual criticism, criticism of historical sources)
- Reviewing or discussing something to express one’s point of view
Interestingly, in Ancient Greece, criticism was considered “the art of analysis.” In other words, a person who professionally engaged in criticism analyzed and evaluated a particular field of activity, most often related to the arts.
Today, however, this meaning has faded into the background. In everyday life, criticism is often understood as a negative or unfavorable judgment about something.
It’s important to recognize that humanity tends to simplify life and make it more comfortable. This process has also affected “criticism.” Why think and reflect before judging? It’s easier and faster to make a snap judgment.
Think about your own circle—surely you can recall many “critics” who consider themselves experts in politics, sports, medicine, parenting, and so on.
The Person Who Can’t Resist Criticizing
First, it’s important to remember that the intention behind any behavior is positive! When someone makes a strong negative judgment about something, deep down—whether they realize it or not—there is a positive motive. This inner motive can take several main forms:
- A genuine desire to change the situation. For example, a boss criticizes an employee to improve work efficiency. Or someone is unhappy with a situation but feels powerless to change it, so they criticize to ease their own inner discomfort. However, being overly focused on one’s own opinions and feelings (an overdeveloped sense of self) can make it hard to communicate their position effectively. A sense of self-importance and the illusion of personal significance only reinforce the belief that they are always right. This can also make a person impulsive, reacting emotionally rather than thoughtfully. Additionally, their own vulnerability to criticism may cause them to lash out preemptively, expressing aggression.
- Justifying one’s own lack of success or self-worth. “I want to be successful and fear failure, so I do nothing. If others try, that’s a mistake—they should be stopped.” This type of person is often called a “dream killer.” For example, parents may discourage or criticize a child’s dreams to protect them from future disappointment. Some people seek to assert themselves or appear as experts by criticizing others. From an energy-saving perspective, this is a natural system effect, but it’s typical only for those with little inner energy—so-called “energy vampires.” Sometimes, it’s simply envy. And, of course, there are the ever-popular “trolls” on social media. The phenomenon of trolling is about being untouchable—online critics enjoy their perceived impunity, feed the illusion of freedom, and see themselves as independent from the system.
From this, two main challenges arise for people who tend to criticize:
- Learning to express opinions constructively. It’s important to communicate your views in a way that encourages positive change in others, rather than provoking anger or resentment.
- Personal growth. If you simply can’t keep your opinions to yourself, it’s time to focus on self-development. No one is saying you must always stay silent or tolerate what you dislike. However, mature individuals understand that not everything in this world requires their commentary.
The Person Who Is Constantly Criticized
Many people fear criticism, aren’t ready to accept it, and don’t know how to respond. Yet, the person who criticizes can actually be a valuable source of information! The challenge is that it’s not always easy to extract useful insights because of how criticism is delivered.
Some people have such an inflated sense of self-importance that even the slightest remark or mild criticism feels like a deep personal insult. In these cases, psychological counseling can be very helpful. There is also a large group of people with extremely low self-esteem. For them, poorly delivered criticism can worsen existing psychological issues.
Understanding the true nature of criticism—its origins, intentions, and effects—can help us respond to it more thoughtfully, whether we are giving or receiving it.