Trent's Dr. Moira Howes explains why we tend to dwell on the negative … and why sometimes that’s a positive
Do you have a tendency to dwell on the negative? You’re not alone, says Trent Philosophy professor Dr. Moira Howes, as humans are predisposed towards negativity bias in our day-to-day lives.
With the COVID-19 pandemic and global political volatility weighing heavily on many, it is easy to overlook the positive aspects of the past two years and the many good things that lie ahead as the world emerges from the pandemic.
Prof. Howes suggests flipping the switch. Rather than focusing on things working against our health and wellbeing, relish in what we, as a society, have achieved — the vast knowledge gained and new innovations for a brighter future.
“We have had a massive social movement where millions of people have come together to get vaccinated and to engage in public health and other measures,” says Professor Howes, who specializes in the philosophy of science (especially biology), epistemology, and metaphysics. “It's really, really overwhelming how many people have come together to participate in that. It's enormously heartening.”
