Hi everyone,

I'm re-reading Pete Walker's book; Complex Ptsd. I'm trying to fully understand the development of the outer critic. The following paragraph is from Pete Walker's book.

" The outer critic developed in reaction to parents who were too dangerous to trust. The outer critic helped us to be hyperaware of the subtlest signal that our parents were deteriorating into their most dangerous behaviors. Over time the outer critic grew to believe that anyone and everyone would inevitably turn out to be as untrustworthy as our parents"

So how does our hyperaware posture toward our parents formed in us the outer critic? The way I understand it, the more the individual is toxic toward you, the more you-as a kid- blame your self for their bad behavior, mood, etc.. You can't verbally attack, criticize protest the unfairness of your parents because you were powerless. I just don't understand how our toxic parents developed the outer critic in us, aka, as an adult we tend to criticize and attack others for any small unfairness we receive from them. The instilled inner critic makes an absolute sense to me when our parents were toxic in their relationship with us, the outer critic not so much!!

Thanks a lot.