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Study Reveals Dread Outweighs Positive Anticipation Sixfold

1/25/2026

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Summary

Story summary

A study finds that anticipatory dread of negative outcomes is more than six times stronger than positive anticipation.
Researchers from the University of Bath and the University of Waterloo analyzed data from nearly 14,000 individuals collected between 1991 and 2024.
The study, published in Cognitive Science, shows that dread persists after accounting for personality, mental health, and income and that it drives risk avoidance and impatience across finance, health, and careers.

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Story summary

A study finds that anticipatory dread of negative outcomes is more than six times stronger than positive anticipation.
Researchers from the University of Bath and the University of Waterloo analyzed data from nearly 14,000 individuals collected between 1991 and 2024.
The study, published in Cognitive Science, shows that dread persists after accounting for personality, mental health, and income and that it drives risk avoidance and impatience across finance, health, and careers.