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emotion
You are judged more by your errors than your successes.
The 'negativity bias' causes the brain to process harmful information more deeply and for a longer duration than positive information.
Physiologically, we show a greater response in the amygdala to threatening or negative stimuli compared to neutral or positive ones. This was a survival advantage for our ancestors to detect danger, but today it manifests as a tendency to dwell on a single criticism while ignoring dozens of compliments. We are evolutionarily wired to prioritize what could go wrong.
You have to work harder to acknowledge the good because your brain is busy scanning for threats.
Where this comes from
- Study
- Baumeister et al., 2001, Review of General Psychology
- What the check found
- The seminal 2001 Baumeister paper confirms the 'Bad is Stronger than Good' effect. While the provided text lacks a direct quote, the claim accurately summarizes the well-established core finding of the research.
- Confidence
- Solid, with limits
Related
One of these every day, and every one names the study it came from. When a finding is contested, it says so.