Why does the fear of criticism often have a harmful effect on communications?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Many individuals avoid making positive declarations because they fear being criticized for what they say or think. They often feel so insecure that they dislike giving others occasion to attack their observations. As a result, they too often couch their expressions in vagueness and abstraction, always leaving "an open back door" through which they can retreat if their statements are challenged. Communicating in such cases becomes difficult, if not impossible. The supervisor will contribute to this condition if he editorializes on each bit of information he receives, embellishes on it, or over evaluates its importance. The tendency to make merit evaluations on each opinion or each comment made will have a deadening effect on communications, and soon those who must communicate with him will avoid doing so.