5 scientifically proven ways criticism harms you more than anyone else

Whether it’s for perhaps launching a new company, having a dubious relationship philosophy, or just not shaving, people are criticized for almost anything.

However, the consequences of criticism are always so lasting, even though they may appear out of proportion at times.

While there may be people who are overly critical of you, here are 5 reasons why they may be doing the worst thing to themselves by criticizing you:

Criticizing others leaves you in a fight-or-flight response. Criticizing others may make you more functional to survive. Criticism’s enhanced potency isn’t merely a taught reaction; research indicates that our brains actually display a biological bias that gives negative stimuli—like criticism—more weight. We have specialized brain regions like the amygdala that encode the emotional component (such as terror) of an experience. We have evolved to react quickly and strongly to unpleasant stimuli. Since “negative stimuli” can frequently entail “death” in the wild, the quicker you learn from them, the higher your odds of surviving. Hence, people often resort to criticism to appear like a better pick for evolution. However, it may have a negative effect on the mind in the long run.

In order to blend in or get approval from peers, people may join in criticizing others in group settings, often at the expense of introspection. For them, self-criticism is viewed as a sign of weakness, although criticizing others may be more acceptable or even encouraged. It can be harmful to have genuine self-worth and confidence when people criticize others in order to maintain a façade of confidence. In reality, these folks frequently struggle with poor self-esteem.

The majority of people only take one look at themselves each day – when they prepare for work by glancing in the mirror. They spend the rest of the day watching everyone else. Nowadays, we all view the world via a set of guidelines or a frame of reference. We accept all those who fit within our frame of reference; if not, we dismiss them. Those who believe their reference frame is absolute and that others should adhere to it are typically the ones who criticize others. This leaves them with vague people and fake friends who fit into their frame of reference.

It all comes down to perspective. Furthermore, our thoughts about other people are frequently subliminal evidence of our thoughts about ourselves. This clearly says that people who don’t feel content in their own lives often find flaws in others to feel ok about the things missing in their own lives. People who criticize themselves may experience guilt. They feel better when they assign blame because it gives others a claim to the issue, which makes them feel better about their own shortcomings. This keeps them away from self-improvement, and they spiral down in their own pride.

They can be diverting attention away from their own shortcomings by attacking someone else. It’s possible to use criticism as a coping method. By drawing attention to the alleged shortcomings of others, it enables people to feel better about themselves or to defend their self-esteem. Individuals frequently assess their own value by comparing themselves to others. Critiquing other people can make them feel better about themselves or enhance their sense of superiority. However, this quality ensures that their conscience gets dark and they are unable to get quality sleep by overthinking and feeling guilt about their wrongdoings later at night.