THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING JUDGMENTAL & BEING CRITICAL

Given that we live in a culture more obsessed with political correctness and avoiding "offence" rather than getting through to the heart of the issues, knowing when and how to provide "constructive" feedback is a talent that very few people still perceive as useful.

Criticism may be unpleasant, but it is vital, as Winston Churchill put it. It serves the same purpose that pain does in the human body. It draws attention to an unhealthy state of things

Due to language limitations and conceptual differences, the boundary between being critical and being judgemental appears to be quite blurry at first look. Most individuals, no matter how critical they pretend to be, fail to comprehend what it means to be critical and end up being judgemental.

By critical, we mean evaluating things based on some fact, conceptual truth, or psychological nature. Being judgemental, on the other hand, is simple since one does not have to base an assessment on anything other than one's preconceptions, which are often uninformed and primarily aimed to please one's ego or limit the freedom of choice of another through baseless accusations.

1. Being Judgemental

• Thinks, speaks, and does things in a way that expresses an accusatory viewpoint targeted towards a person
  
  
• A defense mechanism that attempts to protect a sensitive ego by making an opinionated statement that is a direct or indirect attack on one’s personal character
  
  
• Consistency is valued above all else when it comes to progress, and change it’s a no-no.
  

   
  2. Being Critical

• Thinks, speaks, and does things in a way that expresses a carefully analytical viewpoint targeted towards an information
  
  
• Attempts to create an awareness of an injurious state of things by stating an opinion without a direct or indirect attack on one’s character
  
  
• Looks for ways to produce improvements and most easily sees change and progress.

Judgmental people can easily alienate others not only because of their remarks but also because of their tone. Their ideas come out as dismissive of , or disregarding of a person. A judgemental person will frequently rationalize their statements because they feel they are correct. 

Understanding how the information relates to whether a claim is true or untrue is at the heart of making a critical statement. Any piece of evidence might be interpreted as a justification for or a denial of a claim. So, at the most fundamental level, the intellect's knife should be aimed at putting ideas, claims, personal prejudices and factual information in the most balanced and proper perspective, and is not to be used as a weapon to harm or destroy someone's self-worth or deliberately portray them in a negative light.