Here's an interesting one:
CRITICISM-Chipping Away At Your Self-Esteem & Confidence
http://www.luke173ministries.org/templates/System/details.asp?id=39548&PID=466778&Style="Critics and control-freaks are very closely intertwined, and many abusers are both critics and control-freaks. The difference is that control-freaks often make direct demands, while critics get you to do what they want by chipping away at you little by little, shaking your confidence in your abilities or looks, making you feel unsure of yourself, and hurting your feelings.
Critics control you indirectly through their relentless putdowns. They manage to get you to question yourself and your own judgment. They feel powerful when they can make you feel inept, incompetent, or ugly. They WANT to make you feel bad about yourself. You find yourself striving harder and harder to please them and win their approval, many times sacrificing, giving up, or changing what you wanted to do to fit their desires.
Critics often indirectly manipulate you into doing what they want you to do. If they come right out and ask you to do something, and you do it, then they would be obligated to show their appreciation. But if they can get you to do what they want indirectly and “for your own good”, then YOU owe THEM, instead of the other way around. A win-win situation for our critical relative!"
