Am I lying?
Did I already answer this thread? Oh very well, it's resurrected so I can post a 2nd edition.
Having seen how others take criticism, I'm right in the middle. It depends on how apt criticism in a situation is.
I think the fine art of taking criticism comes from learning to be discriminating and separating the helpful/true/valid points with the chaff.
And I think most people handle it similarly. When you get criticized for something you feel confident in or don't care about, it doesn't really bother you. When you get criticized and it has the sting of truth to it and/or it's about a sensitive area of your life -- that's where people's personality and coping mechanisms come through.
My pet peeve is people who get defensive and emotional over any and all criticism. Every suggestion and observation is seen as a personal attack or seal of failure. And they purposely don't do or do the opposite of your suggestion. It's irksome but moreover, these people don't want to learn or grow or improve even if they say they do. And they will absolutely drag you down if you have to work with them.
Sometimes I actively seek CONSTRUCTIVE cricitism when I'm trying to improve at [fill in the blank]
Otherwise, honestly I mostly ignore criticism. I don't do it with histrionic tears and proverbial beating of fists, I just honestly don't care. Criticism is part of the landscape of life, a lot of it is not meant to be hurtful or anythng more than someone else's observation. Everyone has an opinion, I can respect that. I just don't agree or listen to all of them. Even as a child, my natural instinct was to block out distractions to my goal and continue doing my own thing. Big source of irritation and stress with my family, friends, and teachers.
For the most part, my skin is pretty thick about most areas of my life.
If someone gives me a pearl of truth or good advice, etc. I will gratefully take it. I like self-improvement. And as I've gotten older and wiser (or just older) I've learned better to separate the truth from motives, emotions, other things going on. However --
Criticism can still get to me. Generally when there is a power dynamic involved. Or the person seems to be judging me not my actions. And I feel unconfident about whatever I'm being critiqued on or have no way to defend myself. Like on a new job, I can often feel frustrated like I am being attacked but I can't really verbalize it, because I don't know my employer or new role well enough to know whether I agree with the critiquer or not. And usually, criticism isn't a means unto itself.
I like CONSTRUCTIVE criticism. "This sucks" isn't constructive criticism.
Although, if I agree something sucks and I've accepted it, it doesn't bother me. I can do that with creative work like writing, sketches, etc.