Other Self-Critical Patterns

Abstract

In this chapter, three additional patterns of pathological self-criticism and their consequences will be described. These include (1) perfectionistic scenarios in which individuals employ humanly impossible standards as criteria of adequacy; (2) “hanging judge” patterns characterized by excessively vindictive, hateful, and unjust self-punitive reactions; and (3) eternal penance scenarios wherein persons endlessly resurrect old wrongdoings, punish themselves anew for them, and never forgive themselves.