192: Rick Hanson | The Science of Hardwiring Happiness and Resilience

Negativity Bias

Rick Hanson describes negativity bias as our brain's tendency to focus on negative experiences over positive ones. This bias evolved to help our ancestors survive by avoiding dangers, but it now often leads to unnecessary stress and anxiety. Hanson explains, "It's like having a brain that's Velcro for the bad, but Teflon for the good" 1. He also discusses how negative experiences fast-track into emotional memory, making us more sensitive to future stress 2.

   

Managing Negativity

To counteract negativity bias, Rick Hanson suggests cultivating positive experiences and allowing them to sink in. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing and savoring small positive moments, which can help rewire the brain for happiness. Hanson advises, "Be with the experience for a breath or longer to help those neurons wire together" 3. He also recommends journaling positive experiences to reinforce them 4.

   

Stress and Cortisol

Rick Hanson explains the impact of stress and cortisol on the brain, highlighting how chronic stress can create a vicious cycle of increased sensitivity to future stress. He notes, "Cortisol sensitizes the alarm bell of the brain, the amygdala, making it ring more readily and loudly" 2. Hanson also discusses the importance of protecting the brain from negative emotional experiences and toxins, as they can accumulate and cause long-term damage 5.