Why Are We Attracted To Bad News?

              A question was posed to me the other day: Why do we only see bad news on the t.v. and in the newspapers? First, the news does not just present us with bad news, most nights they do have a positive story. The fact is that we are not attracted to the good news. So the question should have been phrased: Why are we only attracted to negative news? The answer can be found in our ancestors.

                In the early days of human existence there were all sorts of different dangers. One such event could have been rustling in a bush (so scary). There are two different assumptions that would occur to people. One would be that there is no danger and it is just the wind. The other person would assume the worst and would avoid the area. The logical conclusion is that the people that continuously thought it was just wind would die out, because there would eventually come across danger that they did not assume. The more cautious people would survive.

                We are descendants of the cautious people. The people that were worried about the danger. The people that were interested when others were telling them bad news. This bad news helped them survive. Now today the bad news still helps us survive. When we hear about a child rapist we are more protective of our children and end up saving them from a situation that would have otherwise been tragic. When we hear about a wreck on the way to work we avoid that road and come to work on time. Good news is nice to hear, but it is not essential to survive, therefore we do not desire to hear it naturally.

                What can we do with this knowledge?  A wise man once said, “The truth will set you free”. Instead of embracing the idea that bad news is always bad, we should share in spreading out warnings to one another. There are two purposes of spreading this knowledge. First, it will help create a society or an environment where people are aware of issues and therefore help each other. Second, when we hear of an injustices we should fight for justice. In doing this we create a just and safe environment where knowledge and freedom can freely flow.