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
3. Negativity Bias @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
4. Influences Perception Information Processing/Retrieval and Decision Making @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
5. Source: Daily LinkedIn Doomscroll @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
6. Except…
7. Functional asymmetries have been isolated at the neural level @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO (Lewis et al., 2007; Winston et al., 2005)
8. @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO (Ito et al., 2017) pgACC hyperactivity
9. Larger LPP amplitudes for negative stimuli (ERPs studies) @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
10. And at a behavioral level, from a very early age @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
11. Overattention to the negative made sense from an evolutionary perspective @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
12. And impact different areas in our daily life, including our online behaviour… @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
13. From the first touchpoints… @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
14. @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
15. 😱 @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
16. 😭☠ • ‘He’s gone’ • ‘The goodbye is very painful’ • ‘A real tragedy’ @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO In some languages, the dial is way up 🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹
17. 😇🕺 Not dead - He just le. TV for theatre! @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
18. @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
19. To the very end of the funnel @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
20. @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
21. @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
22. @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO Negative VS Positive Website Reviews: 46% VS 27% Source: Zendesk, 2023
23. @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
24. So we’re hardwired for negativity, and this can spare us some unpleasant scenarios @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
25. But in a non-threatening situation, the bias can can become maladaptive @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
26. Meet: ✨Pessimism✨ @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
27. Implications on self-perception, performance and health @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
28. Seligman: health, success @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
29. How about our professional life?
30. Feelings at Work Questionnaire August 2023 124 responses @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
31. 3 myths that were debunked (+ 1 that wasn’t) @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
32. 1. “No news is good news” @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
33. Lack of feedback: 64% anticipate negative @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
34. Context Ambiguity = Negative for 60% of participants @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
35. Career Ambiguity = Negative for 62% of participants @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
36. @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO 2. “Confident people don’t experience negativity bias”
37. @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO 54% ruminate on perceived failures at work 54 % 46 % 😊 😞
38. @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO These are all people that know they can do their job well 86.3% “I feel competent at what I do”
39. @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO And report healthy ways to face challenges
40. @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO 3. “> Senior = > Positive” 👴 📈
41. @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
42. @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO 4. “There’s a gender imbalance in experiencing negativity”
43. @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO Well…yeah 🏆
44. Why should organisations care about the negativity bias?
45. Nega%ve thoughts create resistance to change @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO (Richard Boyatzis)
46. And impair decision making @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO (Richard Metzger)
47. Also, emo)ons spread like wildfire (Emo)onal Resonance) @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
48. And a pessimis%c organiza%on is not set up for success @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
49. @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO The curious case of In 1986 VS
50. @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO Explanatory Style Permanence Pervasiveness Personalisa7on
51. Op/mis/c explanatory style > skills/talent @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
52. Op/mis/c explanatory style > skills/talent @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO Predictor of performance across a number of personal and professional domains (M. Seligman)
53. What small tweaks can organisations make?
54. What c @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO Minimise ambiguity and foster transparency at the company level
55. Balance your interview focus during recruitment @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO New perspective and skills Boxes not Hcked by the candidate
56. Effect of Negative Priming @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
57. Modify language and encourage your team to do so too @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO ‘issue’ ‘problems’ ‘failures’ ‘opportunity’ ‘solu=ons’ ‘redirec=on’
58. Celebrate wins regularly @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
59. Enable two-way feedback Helplessness comes from perceived lack of control @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
60. Provide mentorship opportuni>es @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
61. We’ve seen what work can do to flip the script @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
62. And work is a massive part of our life @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO 70% carry negative work thoughts into personal life
63. But what else can we do as individuals to flip the script in our daily life? @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
64. Learning and Neuroplasticity
65. @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO A N T utomatic ega)ve houghts
66. We might be born with negativity in our veins (and brains), but we’ve also got the ability of changing that @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
67. Learning rewires our connec>ons @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO Neuroplas*city
68. We can learn some techniques to change our thoughts, behaviours and our responses to adversity @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
69. Beliefs Consequence Adversity A B C The ABC(DE) Model By Albert Ellis @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
70. @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO Beliefs Truth
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
72. Distraction & Disputation @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO How do we cope?
73. Energiza:on Disputa:on D E The ABC(DE) Model Evidence Alternatives Implications Usefulness @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
74. Let’s not forget that negative emotions are useful
75. Not ignoring the nega,ve, but providing ways to adapt to challenges Flexible VS Blind Optimism @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
76. @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO When NOT not apply ‘learned optimism’ When the cost of failure is high
77. Remember that it starts with you @SequinsNsearch | #BrightonSEO
78. @SequinsNsearch /giulia-panozzo/ Thank you! neuroscien=ve.com