Criticism - Ongoing or ungrounded criticism toward their partner or spouse is another characteristic of intimacy anorexia.

Having ongoing or ungrounded criticism which leads to distance in the marriage is the seventh characteristic of intimacy anorexia. This can be the low grade put downs toward the spouse, noticing what they do wrong, or just regularly pointing out their bad ideas. The ungrounded criticism has little to do with reality.

If criticism is an active strategy, the intimacy anorexic will be much faster at making a list of what’s wrong, defective, or weak about their spouse more than what is amazing.

Example: “I would define criticism as belittling behavior, verbal or physical, toward the other spouse. It is usually very personal and intended to wound, harm, discourage, control, beat down, and destroy my spouse’s spirit."