No one knows everything, but there’s something really obnoxious about being corrected by someone when you get something wrong.
Logically, you know that it’s important to get the facts straight, and you don’t like the idea of saying things that aren’t true, but it still makes your blood boil! Here’s why it’s so infuriating when someone corrects you.
1. You feel like your intelligence is being questioned.
When someone corrects you, it’s easy to see it as a challenge to your intelligence. It’s like, “Do they think I’m stupid?” However, this knee-jerk reaction can make you defensive, even if the person correcting you had no intention of insulting your smarts.
2. You’re worried about looking bad in front of other people.
Being corrected in public can be particularly obnoxious. Whether it’s in a work meeting or at a dinner party, you might worry that people will think less of you for making a mistake, which can make you extra sensitive to corrections, even if they’re well-intentioned.
3. It reminds you of being a kid.
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For perfectionists, being corrected can feel like a major blow. You hold yourself to high standards and expect to get things right the first time, so when someone points out a mistake, it feels like a colossal failure when it’s really no big deal.
5. You feel like your autonomy is being challenged.
Sometimes, being corrected can feel like someone is trying to control you or tell you what to do. That’s especially true if you’re extremely independent. You hate corrections because you want to maintain your sense of autotomy and make your own choices, even if they’re not always the right ones.
6. The correction feels like criticism.
It’s easy to confuse correction with criticism, especially if you’re sensitive to negative feedback. Even if someone is legitimately trying to give accurate information, you might see it as a personal attack.
7. You’re embarrassed about making a mistake.
Let’s face it — making mistakes can be mortifying, especially if they’re big ones. When someone corrects you, it draws attention to your stuff-up, which can make you feel self-conscious. This embarrassment might manifest as anger or irritation towards the person doing the correcting, even if they’re just trying to help.
8. You feel like your expertise is being undermined.
If you’re corrected in an area where you consider yourself knowledgeable, it can feel like your expertise is being questioned. Plus, it’s extra frustrating if the person correcting you isn’t as experienced in the subject. How dare they?!
9. The correction interrupts your train of thought.
Being corrected mid-conversation can derail your thought process. If you’re in the middle of explaining something or telling a story, they might make you lose your place or forget what you were going to say next.
10. You’re not in the right mood to receive feedback.
Sometimes, your reaction to being corrected has more to do with your current state of mind than the correction itself. If you’re already stressed, tired, or in a bad mood, you might be more sensitive to corrections. In these moments, even well-intentioned corrections can feel like the last straw.
11. The person correcting you has a condescending tone.
The way a correction is delivered can make a big difference in how it’s received. If someone corrects you in a patronising or condescending tone, it’s natural to feel defensive. Even if what they’re saying is right, the delivery can make it hard to accept gracefully.
12. You feel like you’re constantly being corrected.
If you feel like you’re always being corrected, whether by one person or in general, it can become extremely frustrating. It makes you feel like you can’t do anything right, so it’s no wonder it sets you off.
13. You’re worried about losing credibility
At work or other professional settings, being corrected might make you worry about losing credibility with your colleagues or clients. You probably worry that acknowledging a mistake will make people trust your judgement less in the future, but that’s unlikely to be the case.
14. The correction feels like a power play.
Sometimes, corrections can feel like someone is trying to assert dominance or superiority over you. This is especially true if the person doing the correcting often tries to one-up people or show off their knowledge. Can’t they just let it go?
15. You’re afraid of change.
Being corrected often means you need to change your understanding or behaviour. If you’re someone who finds change difficult or uncomfortable, you might be sensitive to corrections because you don’t want to have to shift your mindset/POV. It can be easier to stick with what you know, even if it’s not entirely correct.
16. You’re having a moment of cognitive dissonance.
When someone corrects you about something you strongly believed was true, it can create cognitive dissonance. This mental discomfort occurs when you hold two conflicting beliefs simultaneously. Your immediate reaction might be to reject the correction to resolve this discomfort, even if the new information is true.
