Response to Handling Criticism

I wrote a blog last week entitled, Emotional Strength: Handling Criticism. In that blog I stated that “Remembering that being defensive, we are closed to what’s most important to be learned and that “feedback”, “criticism” is not always easy to give just as well as receiving, but it brings about change…” In Recovery we as consumers are always subject to criticism, especially self-criticism, in our relationships to others; as we may be drug addicted or alcoholics, we spend our time, even free time in delving in criticism. Therapists are inclined to use constructive criticism to guide clients to better understand situations which warrant recovering truths or ferreting out negative characteristics.
What is criticism? “Criticism is the practice of judging merits and faults of something or someone in a sometimes negative, sometimes intelligible or articulate way.” Criticism can be directed toward an idea, a relationship, a condition, a process, person, place or thing. It can be personal or impersonal. Criticism in all is the result of critical thinking. There exist a psychology of criticism both cognitive and emotional with behavioral means of criticism and there is also an influence on how people react.
“There is the Psychology of criticism: a) motivation, b) meaning, c) effect, d) response, e) quantity and quality, f) form, g) learning, l) subliminal, repression or denial.”
In all, people want to use criticism to achieve some kind of improvement, in other words there is a positive reason in creating a criticism. Criticism is a formidable weapon which can create difficulty of respect for someone, causing disrespect and surfeiting equality. As a recovered drug addict and alcoholic, I met with criticism most of my life, though my self-esteem was not much to think about, neither was my attitude towards other people, who saw my way of life as being such a heathen, albeit a degenerate in some respects. This gave me many negative feelings towards other people without regard to what the positive constraints might be at the time. There is a balance to criticism and it’s always important never to overdo, nor be timid, keeping thoughts always consistent. It’s important to be neither overtly critical nor without being uncritical. People who are to critical, are looked at as being too negative, with no constructive attitude. There are those persons who are uncritical and they are known as naïve or superficial. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism
“Psychologist concerned with human communication, such as therapist, therefore recommends that people should choose the right words to express their criticism”. I made my mistake in using the word “feedback” instead of criticism. Where feedback can be both positive and negative, so can criticisms; they can be mistaken for one another. In response to a comment made, there exist a psychopathology of criticism which is a study of unhealthy forms of criticism and also responses to criticism. They are found in the US Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. In this Manual you may find; Low Self Esteem (being sensitive to criticism), Paranoid Personality Disorder, Avoidant Personality Disorder, Hypercriticism (fault finding or nagging) and other disorders. To understand pathological criticism and responses, situations must be created to bring out the good or bad side of peoples with such illnesses, in order to bring them into an understanding state about the illness and how it can be controlled.

Written by Donald S.

Emotional Strength: Handling Criticism

Have you been the kind of person who admires or envies people who accept criticism? I myself was never the kind of person to accept any kind of critical remark or feedback for that matter, even if it was truth. Even as I might sit before my own boss who might critique my work or attitude, I would begin to have negative thoughts, and then I would become defensive with rationalizations of my actions. Anger is the worst of anyone’s reactions’ to taking constructive criticism which may involve even a physical altercation.
We can go beyond the negative acceptance of criticism and identify our weaknesses and how to bolster our strengths, being able to handle criticism with calmness and doing so professionally helps to maintain not only our mental health yet also working relationships both on the job and personal.
Before you react to any sign of criticism, don’t! Just stop any reaction you are having and let yourself know you must stay calm. Know that feed back is constructive criticism which is meant to help you improve your skills and relationships and to also help you meet certain other criteria expected of you.
http://www.audreymarlene-lifecoach.com/criticism.html
Listen wisely and do not interfere with the person who is giving you this criticism. Do so without interruption. When they have completed what they have to say, let them know you have heard what they have said and let them know you are understanding what has been said and the perspectives they have shown you.
When we face Constructive Criticism we often times forget this is a learning experience about our weaknesses and we should remember that without it we do not grow or improve. Remembering that being defensive, we are closed to what’s most important to be learned and that feedback, “criticism” is not always easy to give just as well as receiving such, but it brings about change and with that comes the knowledge of becoming a better and more learned person.
Written by Donald S.

More News about Jared Loughner

Well last week I wrote about Jared Loughner. I shared how I was not violent unless i used alcohol. Well in a blog I was reading the author says: “The risk of violence in someone with schizophrenia escalates 28 percent with co-occurring substance abuse problem, according to studies.” I believe this is true. The same blog says: she does not want Jared Loughner to be labeled schizophrenic like her. I feel the same way, when I first heard the story of what he did I thought here we go more stigma, because of what he did. Most schizophrenics are not violent. The news says he spent time in his basement surfing the internet and smoking marijuana. Some say he is more of a psychopath rather than schizophrenic. In another article the author a lawyer whom has schizophrenia, believes it may help get changes for the better. She understands the stigma. “As tragic as the (TUCSON) story is, maybe it will call attention to mental health, a few decades ago; people with alcoholism or senility were locked up in mental hospitals. Surely things have improved?” Although I cannot understand with all the publicity the case has received that no one has diagnosed Jared Loughner. He did not even plead insanity in his first time going to court. You would think his lawyers would. Whatever happens I do hope that it will bring good changes.