Why do we tend to listen to negativity over positivity?

[Theladyivy1983]

Why is it, that 100 people can tell you that you are pretty/handsome, but we always tend to listen more to the one who calls us ugly? So much so, we tend to overlook/discredit the opinion those closest to us (i. e. spouses, significant others, friends, family, etc.) While giving more credit to the opinion of those on media (social or otherwise) and random people on the street?
Why do we do this and why is someone else's opinion so important to us? Especially when we let these "opinions", determine our individual self worth.

[TheSpaceGnome]

I mean, I don't do that, and I have no clue why anyone does.

But my guess would be, that like me, they don't actually care what people say about them, they formulate their own opinion about themselves, and value that instead.

But unlike me, they are desperately trying to find someone who can objectively explain why they are wrong, so they can have a reason to change their mind about themselves.

And if no one gives them a sound argument swaying them the other direction, they default back to their original, negative view of themselves.

Which, tbh, thats always going to be the end result, because attractiveness is subjective, so it's not possible to give an objective argument against a default opinion.

[Avcfhcic]

Because as humans we have this strange desire to need to please everyone.
If 1 person dislikes us we question why and what we can do to become perfect.
Negativity gives us a reason to improve. We don't like it, which is why we focus on that more.

For me, I get more negativity than positivity, which is why I question positive motions towards me because it becomes habit

[Avicenna]

I think compliments on looks might be an exception. We tend to focus more on the positive there.

[SeekingVirginWife]

People get banned for telling the truth. What are you talking about?

[Anonymous]

I guess negativity triggers more emotions.

[Guy13]

Toughen-up…

[Guy13]

Man-up…Grow some balls or Ovaries.

[Guy13]

Stick and Stones May break my bones but words will never hurt me if you prefer..

[Theladyivy1983]

To be completely honest, this comment made me laugh, because its so flipping true! Often this kind of insecurity comes with immaturity, because we all have to learn to stop looking to outside sources for personal validation and self worth. Because we all have the potential to look attractive or not, it's just a matter of how you rock you, or not.
For the most part, I've finally managed to make peace with myself, (hate wrinkles, fat, flab and all, lol) but sometimes I look back on my past and wonder why I put myself through what I did? And I know im far from the only one who's done this.