A new study conducted by an international team of researchers from Carnegie Mellon University and Bocconi University has challenged the common belief that people are more attracted to negative news. Published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, the study aimed to explore gender differences in the disclosure and attraction of negative information. Over 1,000 participants took part in three different experiments.

In the first study, participants were presented with situations where they had information they couldn’t share with others. They were then asked whether they would choose to disclose that information and if they would be willing to share it later on. Contrary to popular assumption, the study revealed that individuals were more likely to disclose negative information about their thoughts and feelings, such as their inability to achieve a higher position.

The research also found that individuals felt a sense of relief when they decided to share information with others rather than keeping it to themselves. According to Professor Irène Scopelliti, the lead researcher, “Our findings show that gender plays an important role when it comes to disclosing and attracting negative information. Individuals can receive various benefits from revealing their thoughts and feelings, and it can also be more enjoyable to exchange information.”