Bad Is Stronger Than Good, So Save Your Thank-You Notes
Social psychologists have a saying: “bad is stronger than good.”
If you’ve ever noticed that negative experiences seem to be more memorable, it’s not just you—psychologist Roy Baumeister and colleagues pointed out in a landmark 2001 paper that in nearly all corners of psychology, bad events are more impactful than good ones.
Losing $100 is more painful than finding $100 is pleasurable. A fight with your partner damages the relationship more than a date night nurtures it.