Let me show you something amazing...
Psychology (with a bit of philosophy thrown in for fun) was originally my background, but I’m constantly reminded of why it just doesn’t work for me. When I talk about changework methods being based on theory and fluff, what I really mean are that a LOT of experts just make stuff up. I was reading a post in the Helping Psychology blog, sponsored by Argosy University, on “Why Negative Emotions Outlast Positive Emotions”.
You would expect some deep insight, and perhaps even some neuroscience to back it up. Instead what you get is…
There is a reasonable explanation for this occurrence, however. It is harder to adapt to negative emotions because of their traumatic consequences. Every negative emotion experienced leaves a psychological scar. Knowing a pain that is so great will always be a reminder in some way or another as it turns into a fear. Fear of a negative emotion is so great that individuals are left worrying it will happen all over again at any given moment.
Sooooo a “psychological scar” is the reason, eh? It’s true in a general way. The same way that fortune-tellers give you general details that you can interpret in any way to make them seem to be experts. This is one of the things I don’t like about the field at all. There are so many ideas that sound good that it confuses people, even the experts. The conclusion is great too…
In conclusion, while there is no clear cut scientific reasoning or cure for negative emotions outlasting positive emotions, there is valid reasoning as to why this occurs. Learning how you best cope with negative situations will decrease the time in which those emotions last.
So there is no reasoning, but there IS reasoning.
This kind of thinking is dangerous and creates false experts. Personally, I have a better idea of what goes on inside the head to cause this, but I can’t give you the relevant neurological research off the top of my head, so I’m not going to offer up a fancy-sounding explanation. Yet. 
What I CAN say, though, is that not only are behaviors influenced by emotions, but so are thoughts. I find in my work with 3D Mind that how you deal with negative situations is important, but more important is learning how to deal with negative emotions. Saying “emotional scar” is too ridiculously general, but if you find the specific recipe of emotions-fear, loneliness and anxiety is one example I came across recently that kept someone from being able to move on from an event in their past–and work with that, then you don’t have to have a “scar.”
But in my experience, a lot of people aren’t used to working with a “cure” for negative emotions, so their perspectives on what is “reasonable” are a bit flawed. Remember that before you buy into anything when it comes to mental health or personal growth. Ask yourself if perhaps they’re missing something before you take them at face value. Personally, I prefer to focus more on “how to’s” than “why’s” because you can test a “how to” but you usually can’t test a “why”, and so you never know if a “why” is an unintentional lie.
