Ep. 177: Why Bad Feelings Stick... and Good Ones Fade (w/ Dr. Ryan Martin)

Why does one negative moment stick with us while positive experiences fade so quickly? In this episode of Psychology and Stuff, host Alison Jane Martingano welcomes back Dr. Ryan Martin – psychology professor, author of Emotion Hacks, and dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at UW-Green Bay – to explore new research showing how negative emotions linger longer than positive ones, especially for people who experience anxiety. Ryan (also known as "The Anger Professor") breaks down the science behind emotional habituation, explains why our brains are wired to hold on to bad feelings, and discusses how evolution, anxiety, and memory shape our emotional lives. Together, they explore practical ways to manage emotions more intentionally without falling into toxic positivity, and how to make positive moments last longer.