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self-criticism

self-criticism

4 5.1
A habit of judging yourself harshly for your actions or abilities
  • noun
  • /ˈsɛlfˌkrɪtɪsɪzəm/
translation icon : autocrítica
  • In addition, approach-coping strategies were found to moderate the deleterious effects of self-criticism on participants' depressive mood after childbirth.
  • self-criticism and dependency
  • capacity for self-criticism
  • self-criticism and depression

So you could be sitting there meditating and feeling shame, doubt, self criticism, frustration.

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Examples

  • Emotionally weakened by my incessant self-criticism, I was thirsty for validation.

    Academic text (1997)
  • We propose a model in which self-criticism functions as vulnerability to depressive symptoms in the childbearing period.

    Academic text (2003)
  • And when you let go of that problem of self criticism, you learn and experience for the first time in your life self love.

  • Is there a way to think of self criticism in a more productive way that is actually helps you move forward?

  • That action, that intention behind it is self rejection, it is self criticism, it is self hatred.

  • You're full of negative thinking and criticism and self criticism and so on.

  • And I, I think self criticism is, is absolutely crucial, being human to begin with, but, but this is what's disappearing.

  • In my view, then, sustained self-criticism is a prerequisite for being able to speak on the topic with credibility.

    Academic text (1996)
  • And amidst all this patriotism, they also have developed a propensity for searing self-criticism.

    Academic text (1992)
  • Through daily self-criticism, she was able to identify areas for personal improvement.

Synonyms

deprecation
vsself-criticism
6 7.3

Saying negative things about yourself to make praise seem less important

is the act of judging and criticizing oneself inwardly rather than expressing it
self-condemnation
vsself-criticism
1 7.9

To blame yourself for mistakes or failures

is a general act of judging oneself but less extreme in tone
self-reproach
vsself-criticism
1 7.1

A feeling of blaming yourself for something you did wrong

is about judging and criticizing actions or character without strong guilt
self-reproof
vsself-criticism
8.9

A feeling of blaming yourself for a mistake

is broader, judges overall actions or character rather than single mistakes
self-accusation
vsself-criticism
7.6

Blaming yourself for things you did wrong

is internal judgment rather than an admission or open confession

Antonyms

Accepting yourself as you are, including your strengths and weaknesses

1 6.8

Talking about your good qualities to show off to others

How Self-Critical

self-hatred
11 6.4
self-criticism
4 5.1

Surface Forms

Morphology

self-criticism = self + criticism (transparent) = self + critic + ism

The meaning is a clear compound of 'self' and 'criticism', with the second element itself built regularly from 'critic' + 'ism'.

Etymology

Self-criticism combines self ('oneself') and critic ('judge' or 'someone who points out faults'), so a helpful way to remember it is that it is literally judging yourself; self-criticism means finding faults in your own actions or character.