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MENTAL MODEL · M0711

Negativity Bias

Negativity Bias
BehaviorHigh supportEvolutionary Psychology
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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30

CORE DEFINITION

The brain reacts more strongly and persistently to negative information (danger, criticism, loss) than to equally intense positive information (rewards, praise, gains).

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

- Relationship maintenance: Gottman's research found that in marriage, one negative interaction requires five positive interactions to offset. In management, after criticizing subordinates, more affirmation is needed to repair the relationship.

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Anchor fast decisions

Negativity Bias: Negative events, information, or feedback capture attention, are remembered, and trigger emotional responses more readily than equivalent positive ones; evolutionarily advantageous for threat detection and avoidance, but often leads to evaluative imbalance.

MINIMUM ACTION

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Source support: Explicit

  • link
    en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negativity_biasZH · Explicit
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