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More recognize and less criticize

More recognize and less criticize

March 29, 2024

We know that science tells us that assessing the positive of others has the consequence of improving the mood and increasing motivation. But nevertheless, we get more easily criticism than recognition . It is consubstantial with the human being; In fact, we can say that we are predisposed to focus our attention more on the negative than on the positive.

Our brain gives much more importance and value to the negative than to the positive. It is a good survival machine, and therefore it detects very well the bad that can happen to me in the future, easily remembering the negative that happened.

Studies indicate that to compensate for a negative criticism we make to a person we would have to do five acknowledgments of something positive. The negative "weighs" in importance five times more than the positive for our mind .


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The propensity to negative criticism

In our vocabulary there are more words for the negative than for the positive. James R Averill, professor of psychology at the University of Massachusetts, finds 558 words that describe emotions, of which 62% are negative and 38% are positive.

On the other hand, it took us twenty times more to memorize the positive than the negative . We have the perception that it is smarter to point out the negative than the positive.

However, the fact that we are recognized as good generates well-being, even more for those who exercise it than for those who receive it. So in an experiment conducted by psychologists Robert Emmons and Michael McCullough showed that the people who were grateful ended up happier , more optimistic about the future, with better physical health and even made more sport.


For this reason, Amstel proposed me to collaborate as a psychologist in a study on Recognition in Spain. The study was carried out by the social and market research company, MyWord. 1650 interviews were conducted online in January 2018 with the Spanish population of legal age.

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The study data

Among the conclusions we reached, the following stand out.

Only half (50.3%) of Spaniards believe they deserve recognition

Our lack of recognition habit It is so significant that even it is very difficult for us to recognize our own abilities, our effort and what we are capable of doing.

84.5% believe that envy is a very human passion but too Spanish

Surveys have shown that we do not practice the habit of recognizing. However, 84.5% of respondents believe, as Menéndez Pidal said, that "Envy is a very human but too Spanish passion".


40.9% think that envy is the capital sin that most characterizes us

Envy is the second most indicated reason, behind the lack of habit, to explain the lack of recognition: it is chosen by 67.9% of the interviewees.

The world of work is where we feel less recognized

In the workplace, the following results stand out.

83.3% of the population feels that their bosses do not value work well done

Thus, eight out of ten think that the Spanish they do not feel recognized at work . Women and people between 25 and 54 are the ones who identify most with this lack of recognition.

More than 80% believe that jobs highlight mistakes more than successes

Among women this way of feeling is even more significant.

In meetings it is normal to "give birth to the boss" (61.5% do it) and criticize a partner (52.6%)

Statistically, It is a more frequent habit in women .

60.5% believe that it costs us a lot or enough to congratulate a boss or partner

Men and adults adhere more to this opinion.

In the family environment ...

In this sphere of our lives it is not too common to congratulate.

67.7% believe that it is hard for us to be grateful to our mothers

It is the young people who most share this opinion .

61.2% believe that couples do not recognize how important they are to each other

Men and elders say so to a greater extent.

63.6% believe that grandparents are not recognized enough

It is not valued and recognized the time dedicated by grandparents to their grandchildren .

In social networks the complaint to recognition predominates.

Other striking data that are extracted from the analysis carried out on more than 100,000 comments on networks are the following.

Only in 22% of cases do we express recognition for a well-done action or a deserved quality

In the remaining 78% we include totally or partially some data or word of lack of recognition .

However, recognition generates well-being and motivates us to do things better. 96.9% feel encouraged to do things better when someone recognizes their effort,

91.5% feel significantly more cheerful when receiving a WhatsApp from a loved one that says how important it is to him

This feeling of joy increases among women and young people between 18 and 24 years .

91.9% happy the day to receive a call from a friend thanking a favor

Women and people between 35 and 54 are even happier.

89.6% are happy the day your boss congratulates you for a job well done

It is women and the youngest who most share this feeling.

87.2% feel more recognized to receive an email from a partner saying that they appreciate him for being generous

Women are the ones who appreciate it the most .

82.5% are happy the day your partner highlights their virtues in front of friends or family

Women and people between 25 and 64 appreciate it even more.

conclusion

With these data so devastating and significant we have collaborated to make the #HoradeReconocer campaign of Amstel. Among other marketing actions has been a webserie of eight chapters whose director has been Daniel Sánchez Arévalo and the leading actor is Javier Gutiérrez recent winner of the Goya 2018 for the best leading actor. The objective is to promote in Spain the culture of recognition as a habit, by reporting multiple benefits .


SAVING MONEY WITH MINIMALISM ???? (simple mindset changes helped me buy less + save more) (March 2024).


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