A new discovery shows how a simple intervention—self-affirmation - can open our brains to accept advice that is hard to hear.
"Self-affirmation involves reflecting on core values," explained Emily Falk, the study's lead author and director of the Communication Neuroscience Laboratory at University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg School for Communication. Has your doctor ever told you to get more exercise? Has your spouse ever suggested you eat healthier? Even though the advice comes from good intentions, most people feel defensive when confronted with suggestions that point out their weaknesses. Reflecting on values that bring us meaning can help people see otherwise threatening messages as valuable and self-relevant. "Our work shows that when people are affirmed, their brains process subsequent messages differently."
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