Why do people gravitate towards bad news?

Humans have what is called a “negativity bias” because we’ve evolved to react to threats. Like Google, humans are pattern discovery machines; when something stands out, like a threat, our minds highlight it. Why is news so often negative? Because negativity bias is leveraged by the media to increase profits.

How does the body respond to bad news?

Repeat exposure to the news Fighting the urge to think about your bad news can lead to tension in your stomach, shoulders, and chest, a distraction from completing tasks, and chronic stress, digestive problems, and lethargy. Your brain is more able to deal with negative news than you might realize.

Do people want good news or bad news first?

According to a 2013 study published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, most people with good and bad news to share prefer to share the good news first. (The researchers call it “priming emotion-protection,” a fancy way of saying “maybe this won’t suck so bad if I ease into it.”

Why do people love spreading bad news?

From politics to climate change to the economy, negative and bad news surrounds us everywhere we go. But also that our brains are simply wired to pay more attention to unpleasant news. Psychologists call this the “negativity bias” and have found that it’s one of the first things we develop as children.

Why are people sick when they hear bad news?

Consuming the news can activate the sympathetic nervous system, which causes your body to release stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. Then, when a crisis is happening, and we are experiencing this stress response more frequently, Miller says physical symptoms may arise.

What happens to your heart when you hear bad news?

“When you take X-rays of the heart in people who suddenly heard bad news, the main heart chamber (left ventricle) balloons up and appears bloated like a fish. This is one pathological basis of the Broken Heart Syndrome,” Dr. Sudhir said.

What is the saying about bad news?

Bad news travels at the speed of light; good news travels like molasses. He who laughs has not yet heard the bad news. More information is always better than less. When people know the reason things are happening, even if it’s bad news, they can adjust their expectations and react accordingly.

Why is avoiding bad news important?

Staying informed and educated is important. However, constant exposure to negative reporting may be bad for your well-being. The World Health Organization has found news coverage can increase distress and anxiety, and a recent study suggests news reports shared through social media lead to increased panic.

What do you call someone who thrives on bad news?

“Harbinger” is someone who shows that something is going to happen soon, especially something bad. There’s also “The messenger” (taken from “Shooting the messenger”) – is a metaphorical phrase used to describe the act of blaming the bearer of bad news (the messenger).