Why can our brain conjure random negative scenarios in our head but doesn’t make accidental random positive scenarios except when doing that voluntarily?

Question

Why can our brain conjure random negative scenarios in our head but doesn’t make accidental random positive scenarios except when doing that voluntarily?

In: Other

Answer 1

Evolutionary biology. Hopefully I can explain this simply enough.

Negative experiences are more memorable and it has to do with evolutionary biology. If you naturally knew all the good things that helped you, you’d be focused on and spending too much time not thinking about hazards and dangers, and you’d be more likely to walk into a situation that will cause you harm or worse, death.

Negative experiences leave a lasting impact because we naturally want to survive and live and procreate. Understanding what gets in the way of this in a detrimental way allows us to actually focus our lives on surviving, living and procreating.