Your inner critic is contagious

Your friend recounts a story, ending with a spiral of “I can’t believe I did that. I’m so stupid.” You remember doing something similar and now feel somehow chastened. You tell yourself that it isn’t about you and try to move on.

A father grumbles to himself, “Why can’t I figure this out? Don’t be an idiot.” His son hears that and remembers the math hom…