THE PURSUIT OF PERFECTION: WHY DO WE CRITICIZE OURSELVES?

Аннотация

В данной статье рассматриваются причины критического отношения человека к себе и стремления к совершенству с психологической, социологической и культурной точек зрения. В работе объясняется связь между эволюционными факторами, влиянием современных социальных сетей и человеческими потребностями. Автор выдвигает свою позицию, утверждая, что необходимо найти здоровый баланс между самокритикой и стремлением к идеалу. Ключевые слова: психология человека, стремление к идеалу, самокритика, осознание себя, социальное сравнение, общественное давление, здоровое мышление, самосострадание. Ideallikka intilish: nega o‘zimizni tanqid qilamiz? Zeboxon Odiljonova Farxod qizi Выпуск журнала №-26 Часть–1_ Май –2025 39 MODERN EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT zeboodiljonova1@gmail.com student of UZSWLU Annotatsiya: Ushbu maqolada insoniyatning o‘ziga nisbatan tanqidiy munosabati va mukammallikka intilish sabablari psixologik, sotsiologik hamda madaniy nuqtai nazardan yoritiladi. Asarda evolyutsion omillar, zamonaviy ijtimoiy tarmoqlar ta’siri va insoniy ehtiyojlar o‘rtasidagi bog‘liqlik izohlanadi. Muallif o‘z pozitsiyasini ilgari surib, o‘zini tanqid qilish va idealga intilish o‘rtasidagi sog‘lom muvozanatni topish zarurligini ilgari suradi. Kalit so‘zlar :inson psixologiyasi, idealga intilish, o‘zini tanqid qilish, o‘zlikni anglash, ijtimoiy solishtirish, jamiyat bosimi, sog‘lom tafakkur, o‘ziga rahm-shafqat Today, humanity demands idealism from itself and others more than ever before. Every morning, when we wake up, we grab our phones and glance at other people’s lives: someone has gone on a trip abroad, someone has bought a new car, someone else has changed their hairstyle and posted a beautiful photo. These are all ideal images. At that moment, a person starts asking themselves: "Why can’t I do this?" And at the same time, they begin to search for flaws within themselves. Why do we constantly criticize ourselves? Why do we strive for perfection? Does this process bring us success or lead to the loss of our true selves? It is essential to reflect deeply on these questions. As psychologists emphasize, the human brain has historically been directed toward detecting and overcoming danger. This was primarily a mechanism necessary for survival. In ancient times, humans lived under the threat of wild animals, hunger, or hostile tribes, so the primary function of the brain was to quickly detect and respond to any threat. This system has been preserved until today, but now, the enemy is not wild animals but our thoughts about ourselves, social comparisons, and societal pressure—"new threats." The human brain pays more attention to negativity than positivity, which is natural. Negative signals indicate danger, and by sensing them, we can protect ourselves. For example, we notice a sad or angry person faster than a happy one, Выпуск журнала №-26 Часть–1_ Май –2025 40 MODERN EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT because anger can be a threat. This trait has kept us alive through generations, but in the modern world, we must acknowledge that it often causes harm. Today, there is no physical danger, but psychological pressure is immense. We live in constant anxiety by comparing ourselves to others. Someone appears more beautiful, richer, or happier than us, and instantly, our brain registers this difference as a "deficiency." This is why a person begins searching for flaws within themselves: in their appearance, their knowledge, their lifestyle... This forms negative thinking. We focus not on what we have but on what we lack. In these situations, a person becomes overly critical of themselves, even cruel. Compassion for oneself and recognition of one’s achievements take a back seat. The evolutionary mechanism that was once necessary for survival seems to make us feel unhappy today. That’s why it’s important to understand this natural state and learn how to manage it. If we don’t consciously train ourselves to focus on the positive, our brains will naturally gravitate toward the negative. Ultimately, this increases dissatisfaction with life. In this sense, self-criticism can be beneficial, but only if it remains within reasonable limits. If taken too far, a person may begin to deny their very existence. Sociologists call this process the "social comparison theory." Proposed by Leon Festinger in 1954, this theory suggests that humans constantly compare themselves to others. This leads to self-devaluation in the face of those who are deemed "better" than oneself. Today, social networks have become a platform for such comparisons. Instagram showcases only beautiful photos, TikTok only successful moments... The difficult parts of life are hidden. People compare their real lives with these idealized lives and find flaws in themselves. But why? Why can’t they accept themselves as they are? The biggest reason is that they don’t love themselves and are dissatisfied with the life they’re living. If we look closely at the world around us, we’ll realize that no one