Consensual qualitative analysis of self-criticizing using the two-chair technique

Abstract

Level of self-criticism has a significant impact on people's psychopathology because severe self-criticism activates the sympathetic nervous system, and that further stimulates the physiological and psychological stress response which lead to impairment of mental health and wellbeing (Singer & Klimecki, 2014). Therefore, self-criticism is widely studied, but authors use mainly quantitative approaches which allow generalisation of knowledge but do not allow in-depth insights into the phenomenon. Hence our research aim was to identify the kinds of statements individuals utter when self-criticizing using the two-chair dialogue technique which enable to expose inward dialogues people lead with their self-critical parts. Out of 80 participants, the 20 most expressive participants were selected for the analysis: 15 women and 5 men (M = 27.7; SD 7.60). The data were analysed using Consensual Qualitative Research (CQR; Hill et al., 1997) with three members of a core team and one auditor. We identified three domains of self-criticism - Emotional (mainly inadequacy, fear, contempt, and disgust), Behavioural (mainly hurting and neglecting others, stating one's shortcomings and motivating oneself), and Cognitive (primarily generalized judgements about one's negative traits and reactions, perceived judgements by others or based on comparisons with others, and judgements relating to criticized situations and the effects of these). Expanding on the qualitative knowledge in the area of self-criticism would make for better planning and the provision of better treatment for highly self-critical people by mental health professionals.