People have better memories for events that involve negative emotions. According to evolutionary theory, this suggests that negative emotions:
A) make information easier to rehearse
B) emphasize information important to survival
C) increase consolidation of information
D) act as mnemonics for information

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Evolutionary theory suggests that negative emotions have a survival advantage because they prioritize information that is important for survival. Therefore, people are more likely to remember events that involve negative emotions because this information is crucial for their survival. The other options (easier rehearsal, increased consolidation, and acting as mnemonics) may contribute to memory, but they do not explain why negative emotions specifically enhance memory.

People Have Better Memories for Events That Involve Negative Emotions