"Research suggests uncertainty can be more distressing than negative certainty. In one study, people were calmer when they knew they would receive an electric shock than when there was only a 50% chance of one."
"The brain is wired not just to avoid harm, but to avoid not knowing. From an evolutionary standpoint, that makes sense. Our ancestors survived by making rapid judgments with limited information."
"This negativity bias keeps us alive but in modern life it can lead us to overestimate threat and underestimate opportunity. In a rapidly changing world, the ability to tolerate uncertainty may be one of our most important cognitive skills."
The world is perceived as chaotic due to political, economic, and technological upheavals, leading to a sense of impending doom. Humility is a starting point for addressing this uncertainty. Historically, every generation believes it faces unique challenges, yet uncertainty has always been part of human existence. The brain struggles with unpredictability, requiring more energy to analyze and predict outcomes. Research indicates that uncertainty can be more distressing than negative certainty, highlighting the importance of developing skills to tolerate ambiguity in modern life.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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