Criticism is futile because it puts a person on the defensive and usually makes him strive to justify himself. Criticism is dangerous, because it wounds a person’s precious pride, hurts his sense of importance, and arouses resentment.

Even for professionals who welcome crit because they know that it makes their work appreciably better, the process can be brutally unpleasant.2

Each of us has our own set of reactive behaviors in response to criticism, our own feedback footprint: Bryan blames others; Claire switchtracks; Anu cries; Alfie apologizes; Mick chatters; Hester goes silent; Fergie agrees while quietly resolving never to change. Reynolds lawyers up, emotionally speaking, and Jody becomes awkwardly friendly. And at