A study of influences affecting the individuals response to adverse criticism of himself

Abstract

In this investigation, an attempt has been made to discover reactions to criticism under different circumstances and reasons why these reactions occur. Chapter I contains a review of past psychological work connected with this topic. Very little direct work on the topic could be found, but certain psychological theories were found to be relevant to the situation in which one person criticises another. Chapter II records observations made by the experimenter of criticism occurring in everyday life. Responses to criticism in letters to the press, in Parliamentary debates and responses to criticism in real-life situations were analysed and compared. As well as the observational work, the experimenter interviewed and gave story-completion tests to 80 young adults with regard to their reactions to criticism. Chapter III contains a description of the interview method used. Reactions to criticism differ according to the different conditions under which the criticism takes place. Chapter IV is an analysis of interview answers given by the subjects describing their reactions to different critics. Reactions to the following critics are analysed and compared: experts, laymen, superiors at work, inferiors at work, equals at work, members of the family, friends, strangers, and members of the out-group. Reactions also differ according to the topic of the criticism and Chapter V offers: an analysis and comparison of interview answers describing responses when criticism is on the following topics: the subject's personality, work, appearance, tastes and opinions, family, friends, and groups with which he is connected. Subjects' answers describing other aspects of the situation influencing reactions to criticism are analysed in Chapter VI, including the critic's manner, his motives for criticising, the type of criticism given, the justness of the criticism, how sure of himself the subject is on the topic, whether he has asked for the criticism or not. Other comments of subjects regarding criticism and reactions to it are also described in Chapter VI. Chapter VII contains the results of the story-completion tests given to subjects. Chapter VIII summarises the main conclusions of the inquiry.