Dysfunctionally conscientious people feel shame so acutely that it leads to maladaptive outcomes.

· Bits and Bobs 12/8/25
  • Dysfunctionally conscientious people feel shame so acutely that it leads to maladaptive outcomes.
    • They normally are so self-censoring that they never even produce a thing they don't think is perfect.
    • When someone gives them negative feedback about a thing they didn't realize was bad it feels like an existential threat.
    • So they sometimes lash out at the person who said it and try to punish them for it and get them to apologize.
    • This is something I've discovered about myself in over a decade of couples counseling.