Self-criticism Facts for Kids

Self-criticism is when you judge yourself harshly. It's like having a very strict inner voice that often points out your flaws or mistakes. In psychology, experts often see it as a way of thinking that can make you feel bad about yourself. People who are very self-critical might struggle with knowing who they are or feeling good about their identity.

The opposite of self-criticism is having a strong, positive sense of who you are. You feel good about yourself and understand your strengths.

Self-criticism is often linked to feeling very sad for a long time, which is sometimes called depression. People who experience depression often tend to be more self-critical than others. Even after they start feeling better, they might still have a self-critical personality. Many studies focus on self-criticism because it's so connected to these feelings of sadness.

Understanding Self-Criticism
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Understanding Self-Criticism

Some experts, like Sidney Blatt, have studied how self-criticism is part of our personality. He suggested that our personality develops from how we interact with others and how we see ourselves. If someone struggles with knowing who they are, it can lead to self-criticism. If they struggle with connecting to others, it can lead to being overly dependent.

Another expert, Aaron Beck, also talked about personality traits linked to feeling sad. He described "autonomy" as how much a person wants to be independent. He saw self-criticism as taking all the blame for mistakes or problems. A self-critical person might think bad things happen because of their own flaws. These ways of thinking can make someone feel worse.

Studies show that being very self-critical can have negative effects. For example, self-critical people might feel more negative emotions. They might also find it harder to ask for help or accept support from others. They might even blame others more in relationships.

How Self-Criticism Develops

Childhood Experiences and Self-Criticism

Since self-criticism can be a challenging trait, it's helpful to understand how it might start. Often, it can be linked to experiences from childhood. For example, children whose parents were very strict or not very warm sometimes show higher levels of self-criticism by age 12. These early experiences can shape a person's personality and how they see themselves.

Studies have also found that difficult childhood experiences can be connected to self-criticism later in life. For instance, some research suggests that if someone had a tough childhood, self-criticism might make it harder for them to cope with difficult feelings or lead to unhealthy ways of dealing with problems. Understanding these connections can help us find better ways to support young people.

Self-Criticism and Your Feelings

Self-criticism is a big part of how our personality grows. It's also important for understanding our emotional well-being. Many experts see self-criticism as a trait that can make life harder. It's not surprising that many studies link self-criticism to feeling very sad for a long time.

Why Self-Criticism Can Be a Risk

Self-criticism is linked to several negative feelings and experiences. For example, people who are very self-critical might feel less supported by others. They might also have more negative thoughts about themselves. These feelings are often part of experiencing depression.

Having a self-critical personality can make some people more likely to develop depression. Experts like Blatt suggested that self-critical people, especially those focused on always achieving, might be more prone to a certain type of depression.

Many studies have looked at how personality traits, including self-criticism, can lead to depression. One study found that self-criticism was a strong predictor of depression in medical students. These students face a lot of stress. Even after considering how sad they felt at the start, self-criticism was a better sign of future depression.

Another study showed that people with a history of depression who were also very self-critical had more past episodes of feeling sad. They also had a higher chance of experiencing depression again. People who are self-critical often have less self-compassion, meaning they are not kind to themselves. This can increase their risk of dealing with depression for a long time.

How Self-Criticism Affects Getting Help

Self-criticism doesn't just make someone more likely to feel sad; it can also affect how well treatments work. Self-criticism can be a deep part of someone's personality. This means it can stay with a person for a long time.

While feelings of self-criticism might change day-to-day, the deeper personality trait is harder to shift. For treatments to be truly effective, they need to help reduce this long-term self-criticism.

Sometimes, people might start feeling better from depression before their self-critical personality traits change. This suggests that treatment might need to continue even after the main sadness lifts. This helps address the deeper reasons for feeling self-critical.

Studies also show that a person's personality can influence what kind of help works best. For example, self-critical individuals sometimes do better in one-on-one therapy than in group therapy. This shows how important it is for helpers to understand these differences.

What Happens in the Brain?

Research using fMRI (a type of brain scan) has shown what happens in the brain when someone is self-critical. When people are self-critical, parts of their brain involved in spotting errors become active. These areas are called the lateral prefrontal cortex and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex.

On the other hand, when people practice being kind to themselves, different brain areas light up. These areas, like the left temporal pole and insula, are linked to feelings of compassion and empathy. People who are naturally more self-critical tend to have more activity in one part of their prefrontal cortex. Those who are more self-reassuring show activity in a different part.

Self-criticism facts for kids

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