Self-criticism
Encyclopedia
Self-criticism refers to the pointing out of things critical/important to one's own beliefs, thoughts, actions, behaviour or results; it can form part of private, personal reflection or a group discussion.
Most people regard self-criticism as healthy and necessary for learning, but excessive or enforced self-criticism as unhealthy.
, important party members who had fallen out of favour with the political elite were sometimes forced to undergo "self-criticism" sessions, producing either written or verbal statements detailing how they had been ideologically mistaken, and affirming their new belief in the party line. Self-criticism, however, did not guarantee political rehabilitation
, and often offenders were still expelled from the Party, or in some cases even executed.
In the Soviet Union, self-criticism was known as samokritika. in People's Republic of Poland, it was samokrytyka.
In the People's Republic of China
, self-criticism, called jiǎntǎo (检讨) in Chinese
, is an important part of Maoist practice.
which are brain areas responsible for processing error detection and correction
. In contrast, engaging in self-reassurance activates the left temporal pole and insula
areas previously found to be activated in compassion
and empathy
. Those that as a psychological trait
engage in self-criticism lend to show an activated dorsolateral prefrontal activity while ventrolateral prefrontal cortex activity was found in those with the trait of self-reassurance.
Philosophy
It is an essential element of critical thought.Most people regard self-criticism as healthy and necessary for learning, but excessive or enforced self-criticism as unhealthy.
Politics
Under some totalitarian systems of communismCommunism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
, important party members who had fallen out of favour with the political elite were sometimes forced to undergo "self-criticism" sessions, producing either written or verbal statements detailing how they had been ideologically mistaken, and affirming their new belief in the party line. Self-criticism, however, did not guarantee political rehabilitation
Political rehabilitation
Political rehabilitation is the process by which a member of a political organization or government who has fallen into disgrace, is restored to public life. It is usually applied to leaders or other prominent individuals who regain their prominence after a period in which they have no influence or...
, and often offenders were still expelled from the Party, or in some cases even executed.
In the Soviet Union, self-criticism was known as samokritika. in People's Republic of Poland, it was samokrytyka.
In the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
, self-criticism, called jiǎntǎo (检讨) in Chinese
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
, is an important part of Maoist practice.
Neurology
fMRI finds that engaging in self-criticism activates areas in the lateral prefrontal cortex and dorsal anterior cingulate cortexAnterior cingulate cortex
The anterior cingulate cortex is the frontal part of the cingulate cortex, that resembles a "collar" form around the corpus callosum, the fibrous bundle that relays neural signals between the right and left cerebral hemispheres of the brain...
which are brain areas responsible for processing error detection and correction
Error detection and correction
In information theory and coding theory with applications in computer science and telecommunication, error detection and correction or error control are techniques that enable reliable delivery of digital data over unreliable communication channels...
. In contrast, engaging in self-reassurance activates the left temporal pole and insula
Insular cortex
In each hemisphere of the mammalian brain the insular cortex is a portion of the cerebral cortex folded deep within the lateral sulcus between the temporal lobe and the frontal lobe. The cortical area overlying it towards the lateral surface of the brain is the operculum...
areas previously found to be activated in compassion
Compassion
Compassion is a virtue — one in which the emotional capacities of empathy and sympathy are regarded as a part of love itself, and a cornerstone of greater social interconnection and humanism — foundational to the highest principles in philosophy, society, and personhood.There is an aspect of...
and empathy
Empathy
Empathy is the capacity to recognize and, to some extent, share feelings that are being experienced by another sapient or semi-sapient being. Someone may need to have a certain amount of empathy before they are able to feel compassion. The English word was coined in 1909 by E.B...
. Those that as a psychological trait
Trait theory
In psychology, Trait theory is a major approach to the study of human personality. Trait theorists are primarily interested in the measurement of traits, which can be defined as habitual patterns of behavior, thought, and emotion. According to this perspective, traits are relatively stable over...
engage in self-criticism lend to show an activated dorsolateral prefrontal activity while ventrolateral prefrontal cortex activity was found in those with the trait of self-reassurance.