Why Your Brain Has A Negativity Bias And What You Can Do About It

Do you know why your brain has a default setting for negativity?

The phenomenon known as negativity bias is part of your unconscious survival instinct and is something you have in common with most people on the planet.

You have inherited your negativity bias from the genetics passed down to you by your ancestors.  In ancient times it was an evolutionary advantage to have a negatively biased brain. It predisposed your ancestors to being highly attuned to identifying and surviving threats to their safety.

Your ancestor’s negativity bias helped them to live long enough in their hostile and primitive world so that they could mate, reproduce and pass on their DNA. It is one of the reasons why you are here today.

Unfortunately, your brain’s inherited negativity bias isn’t particularly helpful in the modern world. If you are reading this, I am guessing you lead a civilized and safe life compared to your ancient ancestors. You probably have access to food, clean water, shelter, electricity, health care and many of the other conveniences available in the 21^st Century.

Even with the current Covid 19 pandemic, your chances of living a long and fruitful life are better now than they have ever been in human history.

But that doesn’t stop your negativity bias from continuing to scan for threats to your survival.

In fact your brain is so protective of you, that it has the capacity to turn any situation in your life into a potential threat to your safety.

This hypervigilance and the negativity bias it creates is one of the reasons why you might be feeling dissatisfied with your life.

Fortunately there is an antidote to your negativity bias.

Research shows gratitude counteracts the human negativity bias and increases life satisfaction. Being grateful deliberately focuses your attention on the positive things you have in your life. Appreciating seemingly simple things, such as having a bed to sleep in each night, helps weaken the negativity bias.

Martin Seligman the Director of the Pennsylvania University Positive Psychology Center, says you can increase your capacity for gratitude by asking and answering “What went well today?”

Another useful tool is The Resilience Project’s Wellbeing Journal, which includes activities aimed at developing gratitude.

I have no affiliation with The Resilience Project but I use their Wellbeing Journal and recommend it.

Whatever method you choose, practicing gratitude can be life changing.

Your challenge today is to post a comment here or on Advantage Education’s Facebook page to share what went well for your today.

Any likes and shares are also appreciated as they help to spread this post to a wider audience. In fact, I would be grateful if you did this!

Now go and have a great life.