Negativity bias
The tendency for bad things, such as criticism, losses, or danger, to affect us more than good things of equal size. Unpleasant events grab more attention and linger longer in memory.
In everyday life
An employee gets a review with ten compliments and one criticism and spends the whole evening thinking about the criticism.
After a lovely weekend trip, the story you keep telling everyone is about the rude hotel clerk at check-in.
Why your mind does this
Unusual, funny, emotional, or personal things often signal something that matters, such as a threat, an opportunity, or information about ourselves. Giving them extra attention and a stronger place in memory helps us learn fast from rare or important events.
How to spot it
Ask yourself whether one bad moment is shaping your view of a whole day, person, or project.
How to counter it
When judging something, list the good points and the bad points on paper and look at both before deciding.