Page 51 - SU AIT Magazine

Understanding our Crticis

Illustration by: Author

I am not a brain scientist, so I shall borrow help from my It doesn’t mean we lose our motivation either and withdraw
general understanding of the brain functions to explain from a very nice idea or work rather it still implies to activate
this case. In the first scenario, in response to criticism the second scenario and evaluate the possibility of an external
student’s brain processes the criticism based on the existing stimuli in our critic and handle that accordingly. The
habit loops and orders certain glands in her body to release probable response in case of an assertive or authoritative
some hormones which generates fear and insecurity and critic could be to borrow time as the emotional trigger in
eventually establish a quick reaction to the critic more often our critic may not last longer or even change our critic’s
negatively as in this story. First scenario often ends up in perception about us during borrowed time. In other
a conflict or at least bad relations. In the second scenario, cases, we may ignore such criticism when the critic has no
the student’s brain again processes the critic’s view under authority about deciding our project.
a different set of habit loop supposedly developed through
some social training, exposure to diverse circumstances While assertiveness is thought to be a good leadership
and knowledge bank. The brain here does not evaluate skill, it often creates difficulty in handling criticism. Many
the criticism as a threat rather it finds critic as an assistant assertive managers lose their potential employees just
who reminds to look into the matter differently. Resultantly, because they cannot adhere to some productive criticism.
brain activates a different response function where neurons Technological breakthroughs came over long period of time
take the message to glands to inject some hormones that while small innovations are day to day and are highly linked
will generate a behaviour expressing humbleness and with stakeholder’s feedback often in the form of criticism. In
acknowledgement to the critic. This scenario often ends a highly competitive job markets many organizations even
up in a constructive and positive outcome where the consider it during their recruitment process to evaluate
criticism has been expressed and acknowledged and the their potential employees for being emotionally stable and
final intellectual output is better than before criticism. We positive towards criticism. While schools and universities
draw from this discussion that our response to criticism will do not take this into account for training their students
define our temperament, interpersonal-leadership skills it is likely that it can work for better placement of their
and the quality of intellectual outcome. graduates.
Critics of this article might think while second scenario In fact, criticism is our innovation engine whether it is a
has an obvious rationale but not in all cases. What if the student’s research project or an organization’s far seen
criticism has no scientific rationale? It might be based on mission and handling criticism is an art of using your
personal disliking or even upon a previous bad interaction. scientific knowledge and social learning. All we need for
In this case such criticism may restrict our motivation even handling criticism is to press the right brain button to
if we had presented a very good idea. The situation may activate the right response process. Flexible behaviours and
get even worse when the critic has some sort of authority tolerance are the ascribed attributes of activating rationale
on us i.e a disappointment at some family matter or brain process. This will help us innovate ourselves, avoid
with university administration may trigger such criticism conflicts around, loosing potential friends and off course
from our professor at our class project. Yes, we are more our free labour as “critics”.
likely to face such criticism but it doesn’t even give us an
excuse to activate the wrong brain function that leads to Imran Lodhi
confrontation and could be really bad for us to confront a Phd-Climate Change and Sustainable
person having authority on us. Development
SU Magazine: In Harmony 51