created by NateNandos21 on 25/02/2025 at 03:41 UTC
56 upvotes, 13 top-level comments (showing 13)
Comment by AutoModerator at 25/02/2025 at 03:41 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Welcome to r/TrueAskReddit. Remember that this subreddit is aimed at high quality discussion, so please elaborate on your answer as much as you can and avoid off-topic or jokey answers as per subreddit rules[1].
1: https://www.reddit.com/r/TrueAskReddit/about/sidebar
2: /message/compose/?to=/r/TrueAskReddit
Comment by missingamitten at 25/02/2025 at 07:39 UTC*
9 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Can't speak for anyone else, but I've learned that my thoughts are habits. The more exposure I have to thinking positively, the more it starts to just happen naturally out of habit. Same for negative thoights. When I am around people who constantly perceive things in a negative light and share those thoughts, I definitely notice that they start subconsciously affecting my thought patterns.
I don't know if this makes me more negative overall, but it certainly leads to noticing that negative thoughts start popping up that weren't there before. Typically it just leads to just limiting contact with that person, and making a conscious decision to reinforce an environment conducive to more positive thinking habits.
Comment by ominouspollywog at 25/02/2025 at 15:27 UTC
8 upvotes, 0 direct replies
It's a pretty well studied fact that it does. We are pretty malleable and reflective animals. Also, not only can one negative person bring down a whole group, but its eaier to bring others down than it is to build them up. Cortisol and adrenaline (primary stress hormones) will act faster and last longer on your system than any of the reward hormones do.
Comment by SlowBlitz at 25/02/2025 at 05:42 UTC
5 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I think negative people reinforce the negative traits we try to keep hidden from others. The more intensity it brings, the more it eats away at the core values we thought that truly mattered to ourselves. Circumstance can only bring out the resolve we have to overcome our human bodies after all.
Comment by No_Parking_7797 at 25/02/2025 at 21:08 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
In short yes. You become like the 5-10 people you spend the most time with. Many many studies have come to that conclusion. That’s why friend group at all ages is important to take seriously.
Comment by Sloth_grl at 25/02/2025 at 22:13 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Definitely. I was hanging around a woman who had marital problems and I noticed that I was feeling angry with my husband over every little thing then I was with my niece who had just gotten back from her honeymoon and was talking about how awesome her husband was and suddenly I started talking about great things that my husband did and I felt better about him.
Comment by AlissonHarlan at 26/02/2025 at 04:37 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Yes, they does not allow you to have any joy in your life, because they ruin it.
You may think "well i can keep my good mood with someone negative in the same room!" and that's true.
But now try to be with them when you're already down, when you lack sleep, when you got problem at works, and you go home only to ear more negative things.
OH and the holidays, that are made to enjoy your self, your family, and have finally a good time, are not a rest at all. it's more effort because you have to ear them put you down and ruin it for days if not weeks in a raw.
try this for years. (and you can not always just 'leave'. becaue it can be your partner, your parent, and you just can't afford to leave)
i promise that it suck all the joy out of you.
Comment by brucewillisman at 25/02/2025 at 15:17 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Long term, I’m not sure. But I find that I tend to try to balance things in my mind/surroundings. For example, if someone is freaking out over a situation, I tend to calm down and try to find a solution. Or when someone is being super negative, I’ll look for the positive. It’s like being a devil’s advocate…sometimes helpful, sometimes annoying. As I get older I realize some people need an ally more than a “solution”
Comment by Wonderlostdownrhole at 27/02/2025 at 06:39 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
For most people it does. Occasionally you'll get one of those weird people who feel like they have to prove everyone wrong and be perfect at everything but they're rare and annoying enough that people don't want to emulate them.
Comment by Minimum_Aside2839 at 27/02/2025 at 15:53 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Not exclusively, but we are very impressionable as humans. I think not having a strong will of your own and a lack of sense of self can lead to you being more easily molded by your environment, which is why children are so impressionable.
Comment by 21-characters at 27/02/2025 at 17:16 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Yes. Studies have shown emotions can be contagious and people pick up from those around them. Additionally I’ve found positive people don’t much like having negative people close to them and so for a negative person they fit in better in a negative group.
Comment by Cool-Roll-1884 at 28/02/2025 at 05:57 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Yes. My last job was like that. So many negative people complaining about everything. I would get so exhausted in the office even when I wasn’t busy. I felt consistently drained mentally.
Comment by FeWho at 26/02/2025 at 02:48 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Yes when you are young and no when you are older. Unfortunately, most people adhere to their early formative time. Thank goodness we are always forming. Changing your environment makes a huge difference