Another reason for criticism could be our own inferiority, which surfaces in the form of pride. Attacking someone else is flattering to ourselves; it gives us a feeling of superiority. If we can show others where they fail to measure up, it makes us feel as if we are a little smarter or better than they are in that area. When we criticize our spouses, we are saying basically, “I’m not as bad as you seem to think. In fact, I may be better than you.” In an excellent study on the meaning of love, Dr.