In most professional or social settings, strength is easily identifiable. We usually spot it in people who are confident in situations that have potential for failure, or who aren’t easily moved emotionally, even if they receive criticism about their performance. Bad habits, too, are easily pointed out, but instead of being understood, they are countered. Those who appear very sensitive are advised to “toughen up,” to believe in themselves, or, at the very least, to stop overthinking.

However, the truth is that psychological work has long indicated that the weaknesses we perceive in ourselves or others could, when properly utilized, be fairly potent tools for learning and success. The issue is not that these habits exist, but rather that the purpose they serve is being misinterpreted.

The two traits below are often identified as negatives. Yet, when they're observed from a psychological perspective, it becomes clear that each exemplifies a secret strength. Here’s how, according to research.

One characteristic that carries a great deal of silent stigma is being “thin-skinned.” To be thin-skinned means being especially sensitive to criticism, and it’s often perceived as lacking strength or the capacity to cope under pressure. This characteristic does not go well with an environment in which assertiveness and decisiveness are valued traits, because an individual who shows vulnerability to criticism there will also be perceived as less capable.

From a psychological point of view, however, being sensitive to criticism is not necessarily an emotional reaction, but a form of enhanced detection of feedback.

A 2025 study on rejection sensitivity found that some people are more attuned to negative cues within their........

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