Self-examination vs. self-critisism

[nedenom]

Where goes the line between introspection/self-examination and self-criticism? What component of our mind turns it into criticism? Considering there might be both constructive and destructive self-criticism, what turns it into destruction and when?

self-crit·i·cal   [self-krit-i-kuhl, self-]
adjective
1. capable of criticizing oneself objectively.
2. tending to find fault with one's own actions, motives, etc.

There is clearly a difference between these two

Edit: Argh, sorry for the spelling error in the title, is there no way to edit it?

 

[Vidi]

Destructive self-criticism ---> it's ego whining

 

[nexion]

There is a line, but you won't see it. Hopefully you will just "know."

 

[psion]

I think the line lies in the intent of the self reflection. If you intend to examine yourself to hopefully improve to meet some realistic goal, then you should be fine. If you are just criticizing yourself with no purpose in mind, or your goals are unrealistic, then it can cause more harm than good.

Could be tough to determine at the time of reflection though, it requires you to reflect on reflections.. or something.

 

[CLOfriendOSE]

It's in the view, I think. I deal a lot with this issue as a musician.

Try 1:
Self-criticism= Damnit, I played that passage wrong!!!
Self-examination= Hm, I played that passage differently...

Try 2:
Self-criticism: OMFG, why can't I play this right?
Self-examination: Ah, I was flat on the third and fifth notes, probably because I skipped that breath...

Try 3:
Self-criticism: I suck since I can't get this right.
Self-examination: Got it!!!


Criticism involves making a value judgment on something. Examination is observing for what it is.

 

[intpz]

Well I often see myself critically, as I don't do much to make my life better. For example, I enjoy programming, but I don't do it because I just get bored due to the fact that I want to do something out-of-PC that costs money and I don't have money for that. I know that to get money I have to do something, but to do something, I want to be satisfied with my life first. It's kinda a vicious circle that makes me to criticize myself. Although, I believe that I do examine myself a lot too, when I fail something. I do think why that has happened, and what I should do differently. Most of my conclusions end in the "NEED MORE MONEY!" path though. But I do go through hundreds of possible explanations before I come to that conclusion.

 

[LcDel]

Self-criticism is judging one's own actions or thoughts in a negative way. Self-examination is simply observing without judging or forming any kind of opinion on the correctness or value of those actions or thoughts.
Examination: I am probably crying because my boyfriend broke up with me, though I didn't think I cared about him that much.
Criticism: I can't believe I'm crying over my boyfriend right now; this is ridiculous. I didn't even care about him.

 

[intpz]

I think I get through self-criticism and hit self-examination afterwards.

 

[EyeSeeCold]

Agree with CLOfriendOSE and LcDel.

(Self-)criticism focuses on what you did wrong, usually to eliminate the number of wrongs things in your performance or to shame and feel self-guilt. Criticism takes the position that there is only one way or limited ways of doing things.

(Self-)examination is about reviewing actions, not what's wrong but to find what works, what doesn't work, viewing things from different perspectives and other such things.

 

[intp.]

Well, self criticism is knowing one's faults but being unable to forgive oneself for these. And self examination is knowing one's faults but forgiving oneself (say one's conscience) for these. There's no problem in analysing it. Self criticism arises from hopelessness. And self examination from FAITH.
thanks

 

[Jennywocky]

Self-criticism is judging one's own actions or thoughts in a negative way. Self-examination is simply observing without judging or forming any kind of opinion on the correctness or value of those actions or thoughts.
Examination: I am probably crying because my boyfriend broke up with me, though I didn't think I cared about him that much.
Criticism: I can't believe I'm crying over my boyfriend right now; this is ridiculous. I didn't even care about him.

yeah, the latter is an act of self-flagellation. It tends to demoralize and put oneself down for being "faulty" in some way. The other is kind of a "neutral" act mean to just explore and understand, hopefully to make some kind of positive change.

 

[Da Blob]

Again, the issue is what constitutes Self?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Berne

Berne published a "Self help' book, Games People Play, that defined self. The model of Self (P-A-C) he provided was simplified, but the process of transactional analysis proved useful for many. The concept was made popular by Harris who wrote a best seller about T. A.

The Parent, Adult, Child (P-A-C) Model
After describing the context for his belief of the significance of TA, Harris describes TA, starting from the observation that a person’s psychological state seems to change in response to different situations. The question is, from what and to what does it change? Harris answers this through a simplified introduction to TA, explaining Berne’s proposal that there are three states into which a person can switch: the Parent, the Adult and the Child.
Harris describes the mental state called the Parent by analogy, as a collection of "tape recordings" of external influences that a child observed adults doing and saying. The recording is a long list of rules and admonitions about the way the world is that the child was expected to believe unquestioningly.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I'm_OK_You're_OK

So it seems as though a lot of self criticism is not really such, just internalized criticism as a replay of external or anticipated criticism from "The Parent"