In daily life and interpersonal communication, we will inevitably encounter various forms of criticism. Some criticisms are made of good intentions and aim to help us grow; while others are like thorny words that hit our hearts. Especially when criticizing “targeting people rather than behavior” – what we often call personal attacks, often trigger strong emotional reactions and even hurt a relationship.
So, why are some people particularly prone to being influenced by criticism? What role does your MBTI personality type play in it? This article will combine the perspective of personality psychology to deeply analyze the sensitivity of different personality types to criticism, and teach you how to face, express and deal with criticism correctly.
If you don’t know your personality type yet, it is recommended that you complete the official free MBTI test portal of PsycTest Quiz first to gain insight into your personality foundation, which will help you understand the content of this article more accurately.
'Multiple Faces' of Criticism: Not every criticism is malicious
What we call 'criticism' can be:
- Constructive feedback that helps us see blind spots clearly
- A 'hypocritical' suggestion in the cloak of care
- Convey the true feelings from close friends
- Guidance from an authority or boss
- Or…aggressive words that are completely out of emotional venting
The key is that the impact of criticism depends on the motivation and expression behind it . Is it for help or for a blow? Is it pointing out behavioral issues or directly attacking personality?
For example:
- Constructive criticism : “I hope you can listen to my advice before making a decision.”
- Personal attack : 'You are such a stubborn and controllable person!'
Have you seen the difference? The former is a suggestion for behavior, while the latter denies a person's essence. Each of us is more likely to accept the former and instinctively feel resistant, defensive, and even angry at the latter.
Why are you particularly sensitive to criticism? MBTI tells you the answer
In the MBTI sixteen personality model, we can explain a person's sensitivity to criticism from two dimensions:
1. Feeling and Thinking
- F type (Feeling) personality, such as INFP , ENFP , ISFJ , etc., attaches importance to interpersonal relationships and has a more delicate mood. They tend to be more likely to interpret criticism as “the relationship is threatened” and thus fall into emotional troughs.
- T type (Thinking) personality, such as INTJ , ENTP , ESTJ , etc., pay more attention to logic and results. Although there are emotions, it is easier to 'just talk about the facts' when facing criticism.
Suggestion : Type F people can try to 'de-emotionalize' criticism, first analyze whether the criticism is targeted at behavior, and then decide whether it needs to be adjusted.
Related reading recommendations: Detailed explanation of the difference between T and F people in MBTI: thinking patterns, emotional preferences and behavior differences
2. Assertive and Turbulent
This is the “ identity trait ” of MBTI, which determines how we deal with stress and external feedback.
- Turbulent personality (T-type) : prone to self-doubt, sensitive to external evaluation, and even good-intentioned feedback may be over-interpreted.
- Assertive personality (type A) : Confident, emotionally stable, and more calmly dealing with other people's evaluations.
For example, an INFP-T may toss and turn all night after hearing feedback from 'You're doing things too slowly.' And one INTJ-A might calmly reflect: 'Is there a more efficient way?'
Suggestion : T-type people can try to improve emotional resilience through meditation, self-awareness, etc., and gradually reduce the 'over-resonance' of external denials.
Related reading recommendations: What do '-A' and '-T' in MBTI represent? Understand identity traits and personality strategies
Personality cannot be changed, but behavior can be optimized
In psychological counseling, an important principle is to distinguish between 'people' and 'behavior'.
- Behaviors can be changed, such as 'frequently late', 'talking too fast', and 'not responding to messages'.
- Personality is stable for a long time, such as whether you are extroverted or introverted, whether you are emotionally sensitive, and whether you value relationships.
Criticism often has destructive consequences if it falls to the personality level. Effective communication should focus on 'variable behavior' , which not only respects the other party's personality boundaries, but also increases the possibility of problem solving.
Wrong way of criticizing :
'You are always so selfish and don't think about others at all!'
A better way of expression :
'I hope you can tell me your plan in advance next time so that I can make it easier for me to arrange it.'
MBTI helps us understand how different people express and accept
MBTI is not just a personality testing tool, it provides a language of understanding and inclusion. Different types of criticism vary, and the more we understand the other party’s handling mechanism, the more likely we are to reduce conflict and misunderstandings .
For example:
- For ENFP , criticism may be interpreted as “negating my passion”;
- For ISTJ , criticism is more like “I’m not doing well enough and must improve.”
This also reminds us that when giving feedback to others, we should consider the other person's personality traits. For example, when giving advice to Feeling type people, you can use the 'positive-suggestion-positive' expression structure:
'I appreciate your courage to speak actively today, which is very inspiring. Next time we may be able to prepare an outline in advance to make your speech more logical. Your point of view is really valuable.'
This approach is much gentler and more likely to be accepted than pointing out directly “you’re talking too messy.”
Personalized cognition is the first step to emotional stability
For many people, understanding their MBTI personality type is not just about satisfying curiosity, but about starting the first step in self-understanding and relationship improvement . The more you understand your own traits, the easier it is to see:
- What criticisms are worth listening to?
- What criticisms can be ignored?
- Which emotions come from the outside world, and which are actually 'amplified attacks' on yourself?
We recommend that you read the MBTI Advanced Personality Profile after a deeper understanding of your basic personality. It will provide you with deeper insights, especially how to communicate, grow, set boundaries, etc. in relationships, which have high practical value.
Make criticism a catalyst for growth, not a poison for relationships
To sum up: We cannot avoid criticism, but we can change our response to criticism.
- Know what is reasonable criticism and what is personal attack
- Understand the mechanism of influence of MBTI personality on emotions
- 'Non-aggressive language' to learn to propose and respond to feedback
- Accept your own personality blind spots and strive to optimize your behavior
- The most important thing is: respect everyone's core personality that cannot be changed
If you want to understand your personality tendencies in emotional management, conflict handling, and interpersonal communication, please visit PsycTest Quiz official website (psychtest.cn) to complete the free Myers-Briggs personality test (MBTI official free version) . This is the first step to understanding yourself and others.
Related free psychological tests: Glass Heart Personality Test: Test your glass heart level
Have you ever had a night of sleep because of a single word of criticism? Are you a F-type person who is easily affected or a T-type person who is calm in the face of changes? Welcome to share your story in the comment section.
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