Why Criticism Can Be Better Than Uncertainty

In a recent study, University of Toronto psychologists measured the responses of neurotic individuals to negative feedback and to uncertain feedback. Guess which caused them more stress?

The researchers found there was more brain activity in response to uncertainty than in response to criticism in an area of the brain associated with conflict-related anxiety.

From ScienceDaily: "The results of this study have important implications for human behavior, as they suggest that some individuals, namely those high in Neuroticism, 'prefer the devil they know over the devil they do not know.'"