John Gottman, the relationship researcher, observed that married couples had a healthier relationship when the balance between positive and negative actions and feelings in a relationship was five to one.
Of course, workplace relations are less intimate than conjugal relationships, but the study suggests that the more positive experiences we have, the happier we are.
We place more importance on negative events than positive ones. It seems logical, therefore, that to overcome a negative event such as a critique, we will have to experience a greater number of positive events.
This suggests that, if you are a superior, you should start compensating for negative reviews or feedback with positive events and feedback.