Some people who appear completely unbothered by criticism haven't stopped caring what others think. They've just moved the audience inside, and now they answer to a version of themselves that never gives them a day off - Silicon Canals

"The external critic got boring because an internal one took the job and does it better - earlier, more thoroughly, without breaks. By the time the feedback arrives from outside, it's already been delivered inside, with interest."

"The clinical name for this mechanism is old. In object relations theory, the voice of a critical parent, teacher, or early authority doesn't simply go away when you grow up and move out. It gets swallowed."

"What sounds like self-talk is almost always other-talk that got naturalised. The reason internalised critics get mistaken for strength is that they produce behaviours the culture rewards."

Many individuals appear unaffected by criticism due to an internalized critic that preemptively delivers harsh feedback. This internal voice, known as an introject, stems from early authority figures and continues to influence behavior. While this mechanism may seem like strength, it often results in high output and low emotional response, masking underlying self-doubt. The internal critic can lead to a lack of awareness about its origins, as individuals may not recognize that their self-talk is a reflection of past external voices.

Read at Silicon Canals