An analysis of self-critique
Our college years are, as many have worded it, an ecstatic roller-coaster ride where life-long friends and memories are made. Asthese highs and lows take place, a particular low – which is particularly prevalent to college students – is the difficult barrier caused by excessive self-criticism. In its rudimentary form, self-criticism is harmless, sometimes even helpful, but if this cognitive mechanism gets out of hand, it can lead us to very dark places.
Self-criticism is the act of analyzing, correcting, and often condemning one’s own actions. In recent times, this particular action has seen an unhealthy increase in the majority of the population, especially among North American university students.
This process is not only subjected to the perfectionists and overachievers among us; this mental apparatus is present in all humans. In fact, it is an evolutionary mechanism that develops early in our lives. When we engage in self-criticism, activity occurs in the dorsolateral prefrontal and dorsal anterior cingulate cortices in the brain; areas which are responsible for error detection and correction.
Why is it then that we criticize ourselves? Human beings are inherently eager for continuous progress – we intuitively need constant upgrading and advancement. Through conscious self-critique, and the unconscious fear of missing out, we drive ourselves to feel insecure with ourselves. In today’s capitalist-driven world, progress is seen as a crucial necessity. In order for us to be and feel like the best, we must buy the best – the newest car, phone, clothes, etc. Ignoring that child prodigies receive far more public attention than ever before, and that the lavish and luxurious lifestyle is admired more than ever, whenever we watch ads, news stories, or movies, we are greeted by a discouraging tide of self criticism. Instead of basking in the satisfaction of our current achievements, we frown at the realization that there are those who are far more triumphant than us. This exact process has turned life – career wise and socially – into an insane rat race to glory.
Big companies encourage us to keep making purchases in order to stay atop the social ladder, banks and insurance companies tell us “your dream life is just around the corner,” “one more year, one more investment, more, more, more,” and more people plan their lives, rather than settle in and live them. We are constantly telling ourselves we could do better – that a better life awaits in the future, fuelling our blind, ego-driven, self-destructive outlook. We look up to iconic figures, read books about success, watch inspirational movies in order to assure ourselves that we are capable of achieving such success. We are capable of extraordinary feats of glory. Now more than ever, the resources to excel are more accessible to us, and life as we know it is a vast window of opportunity.
An abundance of exceptionally successful individuals were known for having suffered from excessive self-criticism. “I know quite certainly that I have no special talent; curiosity, obsession, and stubborn endurance, combined with self criticism have brought me to my ideas,” Einstein wrote in one of his memoirs – perhaps with humble intentions – showcasing his self-criticizing mentality nonetheless.
So to conclude, does engaging in self-critique have negative or positive outcomes? Should we criticize ourselves more or less? A certain Canadian cartoonist named Lynn Johnston has tackled this issue quite perfectly: “In a way, a certain amount of self-criticism is a good thing, because it keeps you humble. Realizing that no matter what success you’ve achieved, you can still make enemies makes you humble, too,” she writes.
Progress is good. If it is within our interests, we should work hard for it and be rewarded for our hard work accordingly. But constantly criticizing ourselves will take us nowhere. If anything, inner turmoil will only result in an impending obstacle in our path to success. So friends, let’s not strive for perfection, but for fulfilment – for happiness and not glory. Let’s not let self-critique break us down, but improve and maintain our ambitions on track. To recall my earlier analogy, this roller coaster ride does indeed take some steep highs and lows, but how are we to go anywhere if we don’t even feel secure on our own tracks?