The Pathological Critique: The Cognitive Behavior Technique
Cognitive Behavior Technique #32
The Pathological Critic
Compiled by Jerome R. Gardner 2002 - First Edition
This technique is an adaption of the material in the book Self-Esteem, New Harbinger Publications, Inc, 1992 by Matthew Mckay & Patrick Fanning.
cognitivebehavior.com
Technique # 32
INTRODUCTION Definition
THE PATHOLOGICAL CRITIC
The pathological critic is a term coined by psychologist Eugene Sagan to describe the negative inner voice that attacks and judges you. Everyone has a critical inner voice. But those people with negative self appraisal tend to have a more viscious and vocal pathological critic. The Critic blames you for things that go wrong. The critic compares you to others - to their achievements and abilities - and finds you wanting. The critic sets impossible standards of perfection and then criticizes you for the smallest infractions. The Critic keeps a …show more content…
But the child must learn to affirm him/herself if s/he is to fully disarm the Critic. The first two procedures of talking back are important, but they are not enough. The child will not be able to permanently turn off the Critic by calling names and insisting that s/he is too costly. When the Critic has been silenced, the child will have to replace that voice with a realistic mantra about his/her own worth. Affirming your worth is no easy task. The Critic would have you believe that there is no intrinsic value to your life, only a potential for doing something worthwhile, something important. The truth is that your intrinsic value is your consciousness, your ability to perceive and experience. The value of a human life is that it exists. The child does not need to prove this value. Thus, the child will need to develop affirmations on two levels. The first, is a statement of intrinsic value, which can be as simple as “I am worthwhile
The Pathological Critic
Compiled by Jerome R. Gardner 2002 - First Edition
This technique is an adaption of the material in the book Self-Esteem, New Harbinger Publications, Inc, 1992 by Matthew Mckay & Patrick Fanning.
cognitivebehavior.com
Technique # 32
INTRODUCTION Definition
THE PATHOLOGICAL CRITIC
The pathological critic is a term coined by psychologist Eugene Sagan to describe the negative inner voice that attacks and judges you. Everyone has a critical inner voice. But those people with negative self appraisal tend to have a more viscious and vocal pathological critic. The Critic blames you for things that go wrong. The critic compares you to others - to their achievements and abilities - and finds you wanting. The critic sets impossible standards of perfection and then criticizes you for the smallest infractions. The Critic keeps a …show more content…
But the child must learn to affirm him/herself if s/he is to fully disarm the Critic. The first two procedures of talking back are important, but they are not enough. The child will not be able to permanently turn off the Critic by calling names and insisting that s/he is too costly. When the Critic has been silenced, the child will have to replace that voice with a realistic mantra about his/her own worth. Affirming your worth is no easy task. The Critic would have you believe that there is no intrinsic value to your life, only a potential for doing something worthwhile, something important. The truth is that your intrinsic value is your consciousness, your ability to perceive and experience. The value of a human life is that it exists. The child does not need to prove this value. Thus, the child will need to develop affirmations on two levels. The first, is a statement of intrinsic value, which can be as simple as “I am worthwhile