Forman Christian College University
Course Code: PSYC 305
Course Title: Research Methods in Psychology I
Literature Review
Emergence of Self Criticism
The practice of self-criticism started from the Chinese. It was a secularized form of the Judeo-
Christian exercise of confession. For Hebrew people the idea is to make a confession to God,
though in Catholicism the idea it to make a confession to a priest.
The concept of confession and self-criticism is unacceptable in many Eastern cultures because it
cuts across the importance of 'face'. To an extent that, it may get difficult to receive an apology
even after an individual has admitted (at least to herself or himself) that a wrong has been
committed (Guptara, 1994).
Causes of Self-Criticism
The interaction between technique of punishment and amount of punishment, which occurred
only in reinforcement conditions, merits some comment.
In a study of Techniques of Punishment and the Development of Self-Crtiscim, it had been
observed when valued material reward was absent then subjects employed self-criticism faster.
Subjects interacting with a non-nurturant model showed higher self-criticism compared to those
who were interacting with a nurturant model (Grusec & Ezrin, 1972).
However, one study conducted previously, showed that a warm and positive experimenter was
an effective stimulant of self-criticism in comparison to those who had been neutral (McCoy &
Zigler, 1965).
There have been studies with similar conditions and results, for example the one where it had
been suggested that children who experience periods of social isolation are more responsive to
social approval than those who do not experience isolation.
In conclusion, we cannot necessarily state that any one particular disciplinary technique like the
absence of love, absence of material reward, or induction-is more effective than any other in the
construction of self-criticism (Gewirtz & Baer, 1958).
Reasons for being self-critical
Course Code: PSYC 305
Course Title: Research Methods in Psychology I
Literature Review
Emergence of Self Criticism
The practice of self-criticism started from the Chinese. It was a secularized form of the Judeo-
Christian exercise of confession. For Hebrew people the idea is to make a confession to God,
though in Catholicism the idea it to make a confession to a priest.
The concept of confession and self-criticism is unacceptable in many Eastern cultures because it
cuts across the importance of 'face'. To an extent that, it may get difficult to receive an apology
even after an individual has admitted (at least to herself or himself) that a wrong has been
committed (Guptara, 1994).
Causes of Self-Criticism
The interaction between technique of punishment and amount of punishment, which occurred
only in reinforcement conditions, merits some comment.
In a study of Techniques of Punishment and the Development of Self-Crtiscim, it had been
observed when valued material reward was absent then subjects employed self-criticism faster.
Subjects interacting with a non-nurturant model showed higher self-criticism compared to those
who were interacting with a nurturant model (Grusec & Ezrin, 1972).
However, one study conducted previously, showed that a warm and positive experimenter was
an effective stimulant of self-criticism in comparison to those who had been neutral (McCoy &
Zigler, 1965).
There have been studies with similar conditions and results, for example the one where it had
been suggested that children who experience periods of social isolation are more responsive to
social approval than those who do not experience isolation.
In conclusion, we cannot necessarily state that any one particular disciplinary technique like the
absence of love, absence of material reward, or induction-is more effective than any other in the
construction of self-criticism (Gewirtz & Baer, 1958).
Reasons for being self-critical
