What is Self-Criticism?

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Self-Criticism and the Inner-Critic

Self‑criticism is the habit of talking to and judging yourself in a harsh, attacking way, especially when you make a mistake, feel vulnerable, or fall short of your own standards. It is more than simple self‑correction; it often sounds like “I’m useless,” “I always mess things up,” or “I don’t deserve good things,” and is strongly linked to shame, guilt, and self‑blame.​

What self‑criticism is

Psychology describes self‑criticism as a thinking and feeling pattern where you:

• Focus mainly on your flaws, failures, and perceived inadequacies.
• Hold very high or rigid standards for yourself and see normal mistakes as proof that you are fundamentally not good enough.
• Use a harsh internal voice that condemns rather than guides.​

High self‑criticism is associated with more depression, anxiety, and low self‑esteem, and can harm relationships because it affects how you ask for and receive support.​

The “inner-critic” idea

The inner-critic is a term often used for negative self-talk, negative inner dialogues, which can end up being a point of visualised self-introspection, which allows that inner conflict to be resolved. It means, that over time, and internal image is developed, for this self‑critical voice: it’s like an internalised person or part of you that watches everything you do and comments on it, often saying things you once heard from parents, teachers, peers, or culture.​

You can think of it as:

• A cluster of beliefs (“I must not fail,” “I’m only worthy if I achieve”) plus
• A running internal commentary that compares you to those beliefs and attacks when you fall short.

In therapy and self‑help work, people often separate this voice out (“that’s my inner-critic speaking”) so they can respond differently, with either with self‑compassion (a kinder, more accurate guiding voice), and with the application of empathic understanding.​

In short: Self‑criticism is the process; the inner-critic is the character people give that process so it can be seen, questioned, and resolved.

Further Reading