Critical parents, indifferent children
Children and adolescents with parents who constantly criticize them begin to become indifferent to the emotions of others. When we develop the ability to interpret those emotions, our relationships with others improve substantially.
Children who are constantly criticized stop paying attention to other people's facial and body expressions, which leads to a pattern of avoidance of emotional stimuli that other people might display. We usually tend to avoid situations that make us uncomfortable, sad, or nervous.
These children and adolescents use avoidance coping tools more frequently than those who aren't criticized. Avoidance avoids further criticism and the ability to deal with it. The problem is that they end up closing off from negative reactions, but also from the positive reactions others have toward us.
These avoidance instruments put the person at risk of developing depression and anxiety.
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