Flip the script: overcoming negativity bias for positive growth

Presentation by Giulia Panozzo at BrightonSEO, September 2023.

'In this talk, we will embark on a deep-dive exploration of the fascinating phenomenon known as negativity bias. You will learn more about the origins of negativity bias and how it affects the way we perceive, process information and make decisions both online and in our personal and professional life. You will walk away with an understanding of why we tend to focus on the ‘bad’, the risks associated with this bias and a toolset on how to overcome our natural tendency to favour negative elements as an individual and an organisation, in order to create an environment that fosters positive growth, healthier relationships and improved well-being.'

Transcript

1. Overcoming Negativity Bias for
   Positive Growth
   Giulia Panozzo
   NEUROSCIENTIVE
   Speakerdeck.com/giuliapanozzo
   @SequinsNsearch
   Flip The Script
   

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3. Negativity Bias
   @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
   

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4. Influences Perception
   Information Processing/Retrieval
   and
   Decision Making
   @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
   

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5. Source: Daily LinkedIn Doomscroll
   @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
   

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6. Except…
   

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7. Functional asymmetries have been
   isolated at the neural level
   @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
   (Lewis et al., 2007; Winston et al., 2005)
   

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8. @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
   (Ito et al., 2017)
   pgACC
   hyperactivity
   

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9. Larger LPP amplitudes for negative
   stimuli
   (ERPs studies)
   @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
   

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10. And at a behavioral level,
    from a very early age
    @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    

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11. Overattention to the negative
    made sense from an
    evolutionary perspective
    @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    

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12. And impact different areas in
    our daily life, including our
    online behaviour…
    @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    

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13. From the first touchpoints…
    @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    

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14. @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    

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15. 😱
    @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    

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16. 😭☠
    • ‘He’s gone’
    • ‘The goodbye is very painful’
    • ‘A real tragedy’
    @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    In some languages, the dial is way up 🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹
    

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17. 😇🕺
    Not dead - He just le. TV for theatre!
    @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    

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18. @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    

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19. To the very end of the funnel
    @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    

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20. @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    

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21. @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    

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22. @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    Negative VS Positive
    Website Reviews:
    46% VS 27%
    Source: Zendesk, 2023
    

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23. @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    

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24. So we’re
    hardwired for negativity,
    and this can spare us some
    unpleasant scenarios
    @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    

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25. But in a non-threatening
    situation, the bias can can
    become
    maladaptive
    @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    

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26. Meet:
    ✨Pessimism✨
    @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    

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27. Implications on
    self-perception,
    performance and health
    @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    

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28. Seligman: health, success
    @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    

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29. How about our
    professional life?
    

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30. Feelings at Work Questionnaire
    August 2023
    124 responses
    @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    

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31. 3 myths that were
    debunked
    (+ 1 that wasn’t)
    @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    

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32. 1.
    “No news is good news”
    @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    

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33. Lack of feedback:
    64% anticipate negative
    @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    

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34. Context Ambiguity = Negative
    for 60% of participants
    @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    

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35. Career Ambiguity = Negative
    for 62% of participants
    @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    

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36. @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    2.
    “Confident people don’t
    experience negativity bias”
    

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37. @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    54% ruminate on perceived failures at
    work
    54 %
    46 %
    😊
    😞
    

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38. @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    These are all people that
    know they can do their job well
    86.3%
    “I feel competent at what I do”
    

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39. @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    And report
    healthy ways to face
    challenges
    

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40. @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    3.
    “> Senior = > Positive”
    👴 📈
    

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41. @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    

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42. @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    4.
    “There’s a gender imbalance
    in experiencing negativity”
    

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43. @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    Well…yeah
    🏆
    

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44. Why should organisations
    care about the negativity
    bias?
    

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45. Nega%ve thoughts create
    resistance to change
    @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    (Richard Boyatzis)
    

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46. And impair decision making
    @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    (Richard Metzger)
    

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47. Also, emo)ons spread like
    wildfire
    (Emo)onal Resonance)
    @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    

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48. And a pessimis%c organiza%on
    is not set up for success
    @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    

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49. @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    The curious case of
    In 1986
    VS
    

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50. @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    Explanatory Style
    Permanence Pervasiveness Personalisa7on
    

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51. Op/mis/c explanatory style > skills/talent
    @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    

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52. Op/mis/c explanatory style > skills/talent
    @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    Predictor of performance across a number of
    personal and professional domains
    (M. Seligman)
    

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53. What small tweaks can
    organisations make?
    

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54. What c
    @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    Minimise ambiguity
    and foster transparency
    at the company level
    

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55. Balance your interview focus during
    recruitment
    @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    New
    perspective and
    skills
    Boxes not Hcked
    by the
    candidate
    

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56. Effect of Negative Priming
    @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    

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57. Modify language and encourage your
    team to do so too
    @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    ‘issue’
    ‘problems’
    ‘failures’
    ‘opportunity’
    ‘solu=ons’
    ‘redirec=on’
    

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58. Celebrate wins regularly
    @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    

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59. Enable two-way feedback
    Helplessness comes from
    perceived lack of control
    @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    

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60. Provide mentorship opportuni>es
    @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    

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61. We’ve seen what work can
    do to flip the script
    @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    

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62. And work is a massive part of our life
    @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    70% carry negative work
    thoughts into personal life
    

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63. But what else can we do as
    individuals to flip the
    script in our daily life?
    @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    

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64. Learning and
    Neuroplasticity
    

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65. @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    A
    N
    T
    utomatic
    ega)ve
    houghts
    

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66. We might be born with
    negativity in our veins (and brains),
    but we’ve also got the ability of
    changing that
    @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    

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67. Learning rewires our connec>ons
    @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    Neuroplas*city
    

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68. We can learn some techniques
    to change our thoughts,
    behaviours and our responses
    to adversity
    @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    

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69. Beliefs
    Consequence
    Adversity
    A
    B
    C
    The ABC(DE) Model
    By Albert Ellis
    @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    

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70. @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    Beliefs Truth
    

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71. Now it’s your turn
    What you think
    What you feel or do as a result
    An adverse / unpleasant situa:on
    A
    B
    C
    @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    

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72. Distraction & Disputation
    @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    How do we cope?
    

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73. Energiza:on
    Disputa:on
    D
    E
    The ABC(DE) Model
    Evidence
    Alternatives
    Implications
    Usefulness
    @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    

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74. Let’s not forget that negative
    emotions are useful
    

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75. Not ignoring the nega,ve, but providing
    ways to adapt to challenges
    Flexible VS Blind
    Optimism
    @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    

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76. @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    When NOT not apply
    ‘learned optimism’
    When the cost of failure is high
    

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77. Remember that it starts with you
    @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
    

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78. @SequinsNsearch
    /giulia-panozzo/
    Thank you!
    neuroscien=ve.com
    

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