Do you pay attention to your thoughts and feelings? It’s important that you do.
The human brain has a default negative bias.
Why does our brain have a default negative bias?
Neuroscience and research have shed light on the human brain's natural negative bias, which refers to our tendency to pay more attention to, remember, and be affected by negative experiences and information compared to positive ones. Here are some key findings:
1. Evolutionary Perspective: The negative bias is believed to have evolutionary roots as a survival mechanism. Our ancestors who were more attuned to potential threats and dangers had a better chance of avoiding harm and passing on their genes.
2. Amygdala Activation: The amygdala, a part of the brain involved in processing emotions, plays a significant role in the negative bias. It is highly sensitive to negative stimuli and triggers a faster and more intense response compared to positive stimuli.
3. Neurochemical Factors: Neurotransmitters like dopamine, which are associated with motivation and reward, have stronger effects on the brain when there is a negative event or experience. Negative information activates the brain's reward circuitry differently than positive information, leading to increased attention and memory formation.
4. Memory Formation: Negative experiences tend to be remembered more vividly and for longer periods compared to positive experiences. This phenomenon, known as the "negativity bias," is due to the brain's prioritization of information that has potential threats or consequences.
5. Emotional Intensity: Negative emotions are generally experienced as more intense and have a greater impact on us than positive emotions. The amygdala's activation during negative experiences triggers a cascade of physiological responses that prepare us for fight-or-flight reactions.
It's important to note that while the negative bias is a natural tendency, it can vary among individuals and is influenced by various factors such as genetics, environment, and personal experiences. Additionally, the negative bias is not a deterministic trait and can be influenced and balanced through conscious effort, cognitive strategies, and positive psychology interventions, such as cultivating gratitude and positive emotions.
Understanding the negative bias of your brain can help you become aware of your often mostly unconscious cognitive tendencies and then consciously shift your focus towards positive experiences, emotions, and perspectives, leading to improved well-being and mental health.
Negative thinking can trap you and feed your brain’s negative bias, so it's important to reflect on whether you think positively or negatively. Our thoughts shape our reality, so positive thinking can improve our lives and mental well-being, while negative thoughts can hold us back.
A formula to remember is MPTFDA=R
Mindset and Perception fuels your Thoughts
which fuels your Feelings, Decisions, and Actions
which equals your Results
Printable copy availabe at https://cms.sawatchsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/MPTFDAR.pdf
So out of the 60,000 - 90,000 thoughts you have each day, a worthy goal is to nudge them towards being positive ones, since your mindset, perceptions, and thoughts influence your reality.