Does it feel like you mostly notice the things children are doing wrong? Do you tend to focus on challenges in your life in general more than what is going well? If so, you want to check out these articles. Because the negativity bias shapes behavior. This can lead to a huge amount of stress and a decrease in your ability to teach or parent with the brain in mind.
The brain is wired to scan for what is missing and what is wrong. Looking for dangers keeps us protected. Unfortunately, this mechanism in the brain can become overused biasing us toward negativity. But like most brain functions, this one can be rewired to be less sensitive so you have more balance in your life. You learn to “take in” both the good and the bad. To scan for beneficial experiences, install them, and to utilize the information about dangers skillfully. Not perseverate on them.
In this two-part series, “The Negativity Trap,” you will learn both the science and practical strategies of how the negativity bias shapes behavior. From there, you learn to cultivate the skill of using the mind to balance the brain’s bias for the negative. The result? Strategies to help you increase your sense of balance, calm, and competence while teaching children the social and emotional skills needed to prevent challenging behavior in children.
For more on this important topic, visit my Instagram, Facebook, or You Tube pages. Try Dr. Rick Hanson’s work as well!