Latest / Deep Thoughts / The Dark Effects of Media's Negativity Bias on Your Brain

Transcript

The Dark Effects of Media's Negativity Bias on Your Brain · Deep Thoughts

• 0:02
  Speaker 1: Welcome to our Deep Dives. Today, we're going to be
• 0:04
  Speaker 1: exploring this whole world of negative news. We know a
• 0:08
  Speaker 1: lot of you have been feeling overwhelmed by the negativity
• 0:10
  Speaker 1: out there, and we really want to help you, guys
• 0:12
  Speaker 1: understand why it's so prevalent and more importantly, what you
• 0:16
  Speaker 1: can do about it. So today we're going to dive
• 0:18
  Speaker 1: into this psychology, the fascinating psychology behind why negative news
• 0:22
  Speaker 1: just dominates everything and how you can kind of navigate
• 0:26
  Speaker 1: this challenging world of information without having to sacrifice your
• 0:30
  Speaker 1: own mental well being.
• 0:31
  Speaker 2: Yeah, I think a great place to start with this
• 0:33
  Speaker 2: is with negativity bias. It's this tendency we have in
• 0:36
  Speaker 2: our brains to zero in on threats, on dangers. It's
• 0:40
  Speaker 2: something that helped our ancestors a long time ago when
• 0:42
  Speaker 2: they were trying to survive in the wild avoid predators.
• 0:45
  Speaker 2: But today, in our modern world, it means that we're
• 0:48
  Speaker 2: kind of primed for the worst case scenario.
• 0:51
  Speaker 1: So it's not that the world is actually just falling apart,
• 0:53
  Speaker 1: it's that our brains are almost designed to zoom in
• 0:55
  Speaker 1: on the bad stuff first.
• 0:56
  Speaker 2: That's a really good way to put it. If you
• 0:57
  Speaker 2: think about like scrolling through your social media feed, you've
• 1:01
  Speaker 2: got to mix some posts, right, some are positive, some
• 1:03
  Speaker 2: are neutral, and then there's some negative ones, and chances
• 1:06
  Speaker 2: are your eyes are going to go to the negative
• 1:08
  Speaker 2: ones first. It's like our brains have this alarm system
• 1:11
  Speaker 2: that goes off whenever there's a hint of danger or trouble.
• 1:15
  Speaker 1: It's like you always hear if it bleeds, it leads,
• 1:19
  Speaker 1: and you know, we're all drawn to that drama and conflict,
• 1:23
  Speaker 1: the things it could be a potential threat. And I
• 1:24
  Speaker 1: feel like the media knows this, right.
• 1:26
  Speaker 2: Oh, they absolutely know this. This is not a new
• 1:28
  Speaker 2: thing at all. Publishers and broadcasters they've known this for
• 1:30
  Speaker 2: a long time. Back in the day, they would notice
• 1:33
  Speaker 2: that stories about conflict, scandals, disasters, those are the ones
• 1:38
  Speaker 2: that sold papers. They were really catering to our negativity bias,
• 1:42
  Speaker 2: even before we knew what negativity bias was.
• 1:44
  Speaker 1: It's total sense. Like from a business perspective, rate, if
• 1:47
  Speaker 1: you want to grab people's attention, if you want people
• 1:50
  Speaker 1: to be talking about things, you're going to play up
• 1:52
  Speaker 1: the negativity for sure.
• 1:53
  Speaker 2: And as media has changed and grown, this has become
• 1:58
  Speaker 2: even more true. We've got this twenty four to seven
• 1:59
  Speaker 2: new cycle. Now constant competition for our attention online. There's
• 2:04
  Speaker 2: so much pressure to create content that triggers our emotions,
• 2:08
  Speaker 2: and negativity tends to do that much more effectively than
• 2:11
  Speaker 2: positivity does.
• 2:12
  Speaker 1: So we've got this like perfect storm here. You know,
• 2:15
  Speaker 1: our brains are wired for negativity, The media wants to
• 2:17
  Speaker 1: play up all the drama, and we're just swimming in
• 2:20
  Speaker 1: this constant see of information. All of it's trying to
• 2:23
  Speaker 1: get our attention. Where do we even begin to reclaim
• 2:27
  Speaker 1: our mental space?
• 2:28
  Speaker 2: I think the first thing is to understand how this
• 2:30
  Speaker 2: constant exposure to negative news is really affecting us. We're
• 2:33
  Speaker 2: talking about real consequences for our mental and physical health.
• 2:36
  Speaker 2: There's even a term for it, headline stress disorder. Studies
• 2:39
  Speaker 2: show that being exposed to negative news over and over
• 2:42
  Speaker 2: can lead to anxiety, depression, even physical things like headaches
• 2:45
  Speaker 2: and just feeling tired all the time.
• 2:47
  Speaker 1: Wait, so reading all the bad stuff, yeah, actually make
• 2:50
  Speaker 1: me sick.
• 2:50
  Speaker 2: It's not quite that simple, but there is a connection there.
• 2:54
  Speaker 2: When we're bombarded with all this negative stuff, our brains
• 2:56
  Speaker 2: kind of go into fight or flight mode, and that
• 2:58
  Speaker 2: releases all these stress hormones, cortisol, adrenaline, which if they're
• 3:03
  Speaker 2: elevated all the time, are going to have a bunch
• 3:05
  Speaker 2: of negative effects on our bodies.
• 3:07
  Speaker 1: So it's not just about feeling down or anxious. There's
• 3:10
  Speaker 1: actually a real physical impact this is having. And I
• 3:13
  Speaker 1: have to imagine it's not just individuals who are affected
• 3:15
  Speaker 1: by this, right, this constant negativity must have an impact
• 3:19
  Speaker 1: on society as a whole.
• 3:20
  Speaker 2: Exactly when we're always exposed to doom and gloom. It
• 3:24
  Speaker 2: can make you feel hopeless, cynical, makes it harder to
• 3:27
  Speaker 2: trust each other, makes people less willing to work together
• 3:30
  Speaker 2: on problems, and definitely less optimistic about the future. It's
• 3:34
  Speaker 2: kind of like a self fulfilling prophecy. If we believe
• 3:36
  Speaker 2: that the world is bad and just getting worse, we're
• 3:39
  Speaker 2: less likely to put in the work to make it better.
• 3:42
  Speaker 1: This is starting to feel a little bleak. Our brains
• 3:44
  Speaker 1: are wired for negativity. The media is making it so
• 3:47
  Speaker 1: much worse. Our health is suffering, our hope is dwindling.
• 3:50
  Speaker 1: But there has to be a way out of this,
• 3:52
  Speaker 1: right there is. Now that we know the problem, let's
• 3:55
  Speaker 1: start figuring out the solutions.
• 3:56
  Speaker 2: All right, So we talked about all these challenges navigating
• 3:59
  Speaker 2: a media answer scape where it feels like everything is negative.
• 4:02
  Speaker 2: But let's shift gears a bit. Now, let's talk about
• 4:04
  Speaker 2: some strategies you can actually use to reclaim your mental space.
• 4:08
  Speaker 2: The first thing is realizing you have way more control
• 4:11
  Speaker 2: than you think you do when it comes to the
• 4:12
  Speaker 2: news you consume, and a big part of that is
• 4:15
  Speaker 2: being mindful of your new sources.
• 4:16
  Speaker 1: So you're saying that not all news is created equal,
• 4:20
  Speaker 1: like some outlets might be playing into that negativity bias
• 4:23
  Speaker 1: more than others.
• 4:24
  Speaker 2: Exactly. Some outlets are all about the sensational. They just
• 4:27
  Speaker 2: want to trigger those emotional responses, even if it means
• 4:30
  Speaker 2: sacrificing accuracy or being balanced, whereas other outlets are more
• 4:34
  Speaker 2: focused on the facts and giving you a complete picture
• 4:37
  Speaker 2: of what's going on.
• 4:38
  Speaker 1: Okay, So how can we tell the difference? How do
• 4:40
  Speaker 1: you find those more trustworthy sources?
• 4:44
  Speaker 2: One thing is to look for publications that have a
• 4:46
  Speaker 2: good reputation for strong journalistic ethics. Make sure they're fact
• 4:51
  Speaker 2: checking things, see if they cite their sources, provide context,
• 4:56
  Speaker 2: and avoid language that's super emotionally charged or misleading headlines.
• 5:01
  Speaker 2: There are also groups out there that evaluate news outlets
• 5:04
  Speaker 2: based on how credible they are and their potential biases.
• 5:06
  Speaker 2: Those can be really helpful resources.
• 5:08
  Speaker 1: That's a good starting point. So once we've kind of
• 5:10
  Speaker 1: started to curate our sources a bit, what's the next
• 5:13
  Speaker 1: step in taking control?
• 5:14
  Speaker 2: I think setting boundaries is huge. We're living in this
• 5:17
  Speaker 2: world where news is available constantly, but we don't have
• 5:20
  Speaker 2: to be plugged in twenty four to seven. Be intentional
• 5:22
  Speaker 2: about when you're consuming news and how it fits into
• 5:25
  Speaker 2: your day.
• 5:26
  Speaker 1: I totally get that it's so easy to just get
• 5:28
  Speaker 1: lost scrolling through headlines, especially on social media. Any tips
• 5:32
  Speaker 1: for how to actually set those boundaries?
• 5:34
  Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean start with being aware of your habits.
• 5:37
  Speaker 2: Notice when you tend to check the news and how
• 5:40
  Speaker 2: it makes you feel. Maybe you find that starting or
• 5:43
  Speaker 2: ending your day with the news puts you in a
• 5:45
  Speaker 2: negative mood. If that's the case, try shifting it to
• 5:48
  Speaker 2: a different time, or just limiting yourself to checking once
• 5:51
  Speaker 2: or twice a day, maybe at specific times. You can
• 5:54
  Speaker 2: even set a timer to make sure you don't get
• 5:56
  Speaker 2: sucked in.
• 5:57
  Speaker 1: These are really practical. I like it. It's almost like we're
• 5:59
  Speaker 1: creating a media diet, just like you would create a
• 6:02
  Speaker 1: healthy eating plan.
• 6:03
  Speaker 2: I love that analogy. And just like with food, we
• 6:06
  Speaker 2: need balance with our media too, So make sure you're
• 6:08
  Speaker 2: balancing out all that negative stuff with things that are
• 6:11
  Speaker 2: positive and uplifting. Find stories about people overcoming challenges, innovation,
• 6:16
  Speaker 2: acts of kindness, focus on the solutions to problems that'll
• 6:20
  Speaker 2: help you counteract the negativity bias. Give you a more
• 6:23
  Speaker 2: realistic view of the world.
• 6:25
  Speaker 1: We just have to make a point of finding it.
• 6:27
  Speaker 2: Yeah, and another powerful tool is media mindfulness. It's about
• 6:31
  Speaker 2: being present with the news you consume, engaging with it
• 6:34
  Speaker 2: in a more critical and discerning way.
• 6:37
  Speaker 1: So like be more of a detective with the news.
• 6:39
  Speaker 1: Look for clues, question the narrative you got.
• 6:42
  Speaker 2: It, Ask yourself who created this content, what is their agenda?
• 6:46
  Speaker 2: What might be missing from the story? Are they trying
• 6:49
  Speaker 2: to manipulate me with their language or presenting things in
• 6:52
  Speaker 2: a biased way.
• 6:53
  Speaker 1: We need to develop this healthy skepticism, be aware of
• 6:57
  Speaker 1: how we might be manipulated.
• 6:58
  Speaker 2: Absolutely, the more aware we are as consumers of information,
• 7:02
  Speaker 2: the less vulnerable we are to that negativity bias, and
• 7:05
  Speaker 2: the more empowered we are to make our own decisions.
• 7:07
  Speaker 1: Okay, so we talked about reclaiming our mental space, taking
• 7:11
  Speaker 1: control of how we interact with the news. What about
• 7:14
  Speaker 1: taking control in the real world. How do we avoid
• 7:17
  Speaker 1: that feeling of being helpless when we see all the
• 7:19
  Speaker 1: negative things happening.
• 7:20
  Speaker 2: That's a great question, and I think that's where focusing
• 7:23
  Speaker 2: on your sphere of influence comes in. Instead of feeling
• 7:26
  Speaker 2: overwhelmed by everything, ask yourself, what can I actually do
• 7:30
  Speaker 2: to make a difference in my own community.
• 7:32
  Speaker 1: So shift your focus from the things you can't control
• 7:35
  Speaker 1: to the things you can do right.
• 7:37
  Speaker 2: Volunteer your time to a cause you care about, support
• 7:41
  Speaker 2: local businesses, have those tough conversations with your neighbors. Even
• 7:45
  Speaker 2: small actions can create a ripple effect and lead to
• 7:49
  Speaker 2: positive change.
• 7:50
  Speaker 1: I feel like we've really covered a lot in this
• 7:51
  Speaker 1: deep dive. You know. We started with that psychology of
• 7:54
  Speaker 1: negativity bias, and then we went through some strategies for
• 7:57
  Speaker 1: how to deal with this crazy media world. Think the
• 8:00
  Speaker 1: biggest takeaway for me is realizing that we're not just helpless.
• 8:03
  Speaker 1: We actually have a lot of power over how we
• 8:06
  Speaker 1: interact with the news and how we can protect our
• 8:08
  Speaker 1: mental well being.
• 8:09
  Speaker 2: Totally, it's about changing that mindset. It's easy to feel
• 8:12
  Speaker 2: like negativity is just hitting you from all sides. But
• 8:14
  Speaker 2: we have the power to choose. We can curate the
• 8:17
  Speaker 2: news we consume, set boundaries, and practice being mindful.
• 8:21
  Speaker 1: And it's not just about avoiding the negative stuff. It's
• 8:24
  Speaker 1: about really seeking out the positive, those stories of hope
• 8:28
  Speaker 1: and resilience, the human connection, all those things that remind
• 8:32
  Speaker 1: us that there's good in the world too.
• 8:33
  Speaker 2: Absolutely, when we make an effort to find that balance,
• 8:36
  Speaker 2: we're not just changing our own outlook, we're contributing to
• 8:39
  Speaker 2: a better information environment for everyone.
• 8:41
  Speaker 1: It's like a ripple effect. When we choose to focus
• 8:44
  Speaker 1: on the good, share those stories of hope, we inspire
• 8:47
  Speaker 1: others to do the same.
• 8:49
  Speaker 2: For sure, and think about the impact that has on
• 8:52
  Speaker 2: our families, our communities, even just our own self talk.
• 8:56
  Speaker 2: When we have that more balanced and hopeful perspective, it
• 9:00
  Speaker 2: changes everything.
• 9:01
  Speaker 1: So to wrap up this deep dive, I really want
• 9:03
  Speaker 1: everyone listening to walk away feeling empowered like they can
• 9:06
  Speaker 1: make a difference. We've talked about the challenges and we've
• 9:09
  Speaker 1: gone through some solutions. Now it's time to actually take action.
• 9:12
  Speaker 2: You got it. Remember that you have choices. Choose your
• 9:16
  Speaker 2: news wisely, be mindful of your thoughts, choose to focus
• 9:19
  Speaker 2: on the good, on hope and on the things you
• 9:22
  Speaker 2: can control.
• 9:23
  Speaker 1: And remember you're not alone in this. We're all navigating
• 9:25
  Speaker 1: this crazy information world together.
• 9:27
  Speaker 2: By making smart choices about how we interact with news,
• 9:30
  Speaker 2: we can protect our mental well being and contribute to
• 9:33
  Speaker 2: a more balanced and hopeful world.
• 9:37
  Speaker 1: Thanks for joining us on this deep dive. I hope
• 9:39
  Speaker 1: you found it helpful and remember the power to choose
• 9:41
  Speaker 1: a more positive outlook starts with you.
• 9:47
  Speaker 2: Thank you for tuning in to this episode of the
• 9:48
  Speaker 2: Deep Thoughts podcast. I hope you found insights and inspiration
• 9:51
  Speaker 2: to take with you on your journey of self growth.
• 9:55
  Speaker 2: If you enjoyed the show, be sure to hit the
• 9:57
  Speaker 2: subscribe button so you never miss an episode, and don't
• 10:00
  Speaker 2: forget to follow us on social media to stay updated
• 10:02
  Speaker 2: on new releases and exclusive content.
• 10:07
  Speaker 1: See you next time.
• 10:08
  Speaker 2: Where will continue to
• 10:09
  Speaker 1: Help you grow and explore your full potential.