Let’s face it: we use judgment daily. It’s the backbone for our decisions, actions and opinions. In fact, judgment is a necessary and beneficial facet of our everyday lives. Many people deny this, believing that they are non-judgmental – the truth is, it’s impossible to go through life without it.

“This, the researchers conclude, is evidence that our brains make judgments of people before we even process who they are or what they look like,” Alexandra Sifferlin, author of the Time article “Our Brains Immediately Judge People,” said. 

Judgment is all around us. It’s a natural part of life, innately wired in our brains to survive. To grasp the idea of judgment requires an understanding of how the brain functions. By taking a look at the neurological aspect of it, we can truly see why judgements are made the way they are. 

“The essence of cognition is judgment, which occurs when a certain object is distinguished from other objects and is characterized by some concept or concepts,” Britannica said. 

Judgments on their own are plainly used to decipher a situation, but when applied cruelly, especially when stereotyping, it can severely impact a person’s judgment. 

“Because stereotypes can powerfully influence people’s perceptions toward a stereotyped group, perceivers may infer positive or negative stereotyped characteristics when they are actually not true, and such stereotyped perceptions may influence people’s moral judgments,” Peng Zhang said in University of Northern Iowa Scholar Works. 

According to Biola University, even your positive judgments can put a lot of pressure on other people and can harm them.

“In fact, studies have shown that unnecessary judgment increases levels of stress, anxiety and feelings of depression,” High Country Behavioral Health said.  

To make good judgments, as the Life Coach Directory says, we should become more mindful of our thoughts, making a conscious effort to confront our problems directly. We should try to see more positives in people and practice empathy by remembering what it’s like to be judged.

City Wise says that using judgment correctly can help with prioritizing, meeting deadlines and planning, which in turn can help with good decision-making. It can also help you fulfill your goals and create other positive character traits, as well as good and moral behavior. 

Overall, it is essential to understand the depth in meaning of the idea of judgment. I’m not necessarily saying that judgment is all good – just that judgment is commonly misinterpreted. Sometimes people only see the world through a lens of the poor side of judgment. Ultimately, judgment is extremely beneficial when paired with caution.