REAL ESTATE AND YOUR EMOTIONS: FREEDOM FROM “MEDIA ATTENTION DISORDER”
December 16th, 2008 categories: Real Estate Psychology
In The Straight Scoop we occasionally write about real estate psychology. Our intent is to hopefully make a modest contribution to the psychology of home buying and home selling for our blog users. A modest contribution in the direction of mental health and wellness.
If you have become weary of the never-ending stream of economic news that fill the media these days, this one is for you. Let me offer a “cognitive therapy” way of seeing the bad news in its more accurate context: the context is seeing the whole picture, not just part of the picture. Realizing something is not true, or only partly true, is one way to get rid of worry. 
Here is the problem: lots of people are in a state of fear and worry that is based more on seeing just part of the picture, and not focusing on the whole picture. The news media can be a powerful force toward creating a nearly hypnotic state that we might label “media attention disorder.” As viewers process and internalize the bad news which is implicitly the only news, they begin to see the world in the one-dimensional way it is presented. In this sense the news media is not just reporting reality, it is creating reality.
The reality that is created in the minds of viewers can run the spectrum from low-grade annoyance on up to high-grade anxiety. As viewers believe the one-dmensional world of only bad news, they begin to assume this view as valid and apply it as one of their prime psychological filtering mechanisms. As this happens, all other information is interpreted through the “bad news” filter. Even good news is seen as the exception that proves the bad news rule.
There are many reasons why the news media presents information in the way it does. But my point here is simply to suggest that the incessant diet of negatives can distort an honest view of the world, as well as do real psychological harm.
Bringing it back to real estate, it can distort rational analysis and clear-headed thinking on important real estate decisions.
One way to counteract the impact of this is to recognize that the presentation of such a one-sided view is simply not true. Not true in that it is only a part of reality, not the full picture of reality. It is not a matter of putting a happy spin on bad news. It is a matter of seeing more than just one thing at a time.
Doing so provides freedom from “media attention disorder.” And when you don’t have this condition, you will be far better able to do whatever you need to do in real estate with a clear head. At the very least, you won’t have to waste valuable time with worry and stress.
We also help combat real estate induced stress and worry with honest answers to your questions about buying and selling! Do feel free to contact us at any time.
