What drives people to have negative attitudes and always look to the bad things in life and not the good ?

Answer 1

Other people who have a bad or negative attitude towards them - It damages self esteem and lowers confidence.

Answer 2

Looking at my own negative attitudes and, having done a fair amount of exploration in this area, I recognise a number of contributing factors.

I think, at a very deep subconscious/unconscious level we make choices, for whatever reason. Sometimes to try to save ourselves from future pain following a painful experience. Because, if we have been positive about something and then we end up getting hurt, for example, a part of our mind will make an association with the positive excitement, trust, feelings and the negative outcome. And a new belief will be born that if we get our hopes up then it leads to a painful outcome, so at least if we think negatively, we won't be (as) hurt if the same outcome happens.

Our parents and signficant others in our lives whilst we are growing up have a tremendous bearning on our attitude in life. If our parents are negative, anxious or angry, or lacking in self-esteem then we are likely to learn these negative patterns. Likewise, if we have positive, energetic, relaxed, generally happy parents, then this is how we learn to be.

Sometime, at some level, we will make a different choice, though. We might grow up and decide that, under no circumstances, are we going to be like our parents. Easier said. But this attitude can make a difference.

Experiences of anxiety, depression, illness, trauma, loss, solitude.....the list goes on, can all lead us into experiences of negative attitudes.

At the end of the day, the way through (or one way through) would be choice and re-training ourselves to think in a new direction. For this to work all we require is to really really really want to change!

Answer 3

well, there are numerous factors which come into play such as bad experiences with other people in various situations. these include being abused themselves in the past, witnessing an event or predicament taking place that has effected them badly, people being rude, arrogant, narcisstic. people who think negatively are usually depressed, feeling down, having low self-esteem and self-confidence. the fact that people can be so full of hate and anger, not to mention there is despair and sadness makes them feel the way they do.

they feel as if no matter what, there is bad occuring in society and throughout the world. and yet having a pessimistic take on life can affect their mood and could prevent them from being happy and content in the long run.

Answer 4

First of all, people are not driven to have negative attitudes. They develop negative attitudes when everything begins going wrong for themselves. They develop a feeling of helplessness when they've lost control of their lives. This could happen due to many reasons; negativity subjected to them when growing up, a horrific accident leaving them impared in some or many ways, negativity subjected to them from their spouse or an extremely bitter divorce.
I have a friend (age 37) who was always happy and had a bright future ahead of her. She made one error, ended up in a coma for 30-day (due to a near deadly automobile accident) and now she has lost all feeling on her left side and has problems with her speech. She gets depressed a lot and has problems with helping her children and being in relationships. So, she did not drive to develop a negative attitude - life happens and sometimes it deals us sour lemons.

Answer 5

jealousy because if you have some thing good goin on in your life be sure there will be some one just round the corner givin negative attitudes out .

Answer 6

Self-centeredness and self-absorbtion. They usually feel negative about themselves, so that's all they see. If they were to get outside of themselves and focus on helping someone else, they would feel better about themselves and, in turn, see the world in a more positive light.

Answer 7

My brother has been called by alot of people..."boy, isn't he negative?"....but my brother says he doesn't see it...i say, look what you just said...that was negative...(in a nice way, so he would get it!!!) NO, he just says .."I'm a realist"...i see him AS LEAST AS POSSIBLE..HE WON'T CHANGE!!!GIRLS, YES GIRLS HAVE SAID TO HIS FACE..."that was abusive,,,"...and he just laughs...so he won't change...i feel he loves the attention he gets from being so negative that we call it on him!!! i stay away...that is best for me..i feel better when i am not around him!!!i FEEL HE HAS LOW SELF ESTEEM...BUT YOU CAN'T TELL HIM THAT!!! HA!

Answer 8

They believe their own thoughts. Then they become them. Playing victim! It's safe, you get to make the whole world wrong and be right. You become what you think about. Change the way you think(every thought) and speak(every word).

Answer 9

They probably feel that the entire world is against them and they don't think it's fair. But with that outlook, they're gonna be miserable for life. It's a shame.

"If life hands you lemons, make lemonade."

Answer 10

survival instinct. people remember the bad things that happen to them in order to avoid repeating them, therefore, if there's a good outcome & a bad outcome, the bad outcome will usually be foremost in one's mind.