|
By definition, news is something that takes place that is out of the ordinary...and a lot of news could be considered bad: car bombings, assassinations, war. But a recent survey shows that along with "bad" news, we need to hear good news. |
According to a recent survey, good news has a positive impact on our lives and people want more of it.
Several people on the street had reactions when ask about hearing good news and how it makes them feel:
"You hear a good news story, you hear something nice happening in the world, it makes me feel good. I like it."
"When I hear good news, I feel more optimistic, not only about the world as a whole, but also for my own life. When I hear good news, it does make me feel better."
The survey shows that bad news: news about war, death and calamity has a negative psychological impact.
Bad news increases people's anxiety according to Dorree Lynn, a psychologist who analyzes news. "Anxiety and depression are increasing and part of it is the way media impacts on them and the rapidity of the terror stories in the news. People feel badly. They get scared."
The survey concerns Americans' attitudes toward news. It was conducted by Monitor Services, a company that studies trends. Psychologist David Bersoff oversaw the research.
"Americans want to see the media report on more good news stories. They not only crave more balance in their news, they need more balance in their news."
Dr. Lynn says the same would hold true anywhere. "Of course there has to be a global impact because the world is shrinking and anything that happens one place is instantly available someplace else."
The survey shows that good news makes people feel motivated, inspired and more optimistic about the future, and it even increases their productivity at work, while bad news has a negative impact, according to Dr. Bersoff. "For example, in this study alone, we found that 65 percent of people thought that things weren't going very well in the country today."
Dr. Lynn says the media must change and present a more balanced account of events. She sometimes tells her clients to turn off the TV.
