Assuming the Worst

What is it about people that causes them to be so pessimistic?  I have encountered a lot of people today that just want to bring me down with their "Debbie Downer" attitudes and it's driving me a little crazy.  Why do we go into some situations and automatically assume the absolute worst?  Are we just assuming the worst so we can be pleasantly surprised when the proverbial you know what doesn't actually hit the fan?

I particularly see this in my insurance job.  Why do people assume that we are going to go above and beyond the call of duty to try and not pay their claim or take care of them?  Why would you assume that we are not doing our best?  For example, a customer today called to make a claim.  From the moment I answered the phone this person was threatening that we should "pay their claim or else!".  Ok... how about you give me your name first and we can actually discuss what happened!  I know people don't like insurance companies but we have better things to do with our time than sit around and piss people off.  While I love being yelled at on the phone and all, I do have other things to get done.  So let's just assume that my first duty is to not purposely try and screw you over!  Example 2.  I have another insured who was in an accident who I am helping file a claim through the other insurance company.  The other company cannot make any payments on the claim until they have first spoken with their insured and taken a statement from them.  Unfortunately, said insured is being difficult and not returning calls to that adjuster.  This is delaying the entire process for my customer.  While this is frustrating, this is just the way it works sometimes.  The other company's claims adjuster assured me that they were calling their customer on a daily basis and they want to get things going just as badly as I do.  My customers response to this was "how do you know they are calling every day?".  Their assumption is that the other company is purposely doing nothing with the claim to avoid paying out any money.  Why would you suddenly assume the worst?  I can guarantee that that adjuster wants to get this claim off of his desk and is not just holding onto it just because.  While I'm sure he also loves getting yelled at by angry people just as much as I do, I'm sure he is doing the best he can.

So back to my initial question.  Why do we go into certain situations assuming the worst will happen?  Believe it or not, everyone is not out to get you!  Give people the benefit of the doubt before you go in with your guns a blazin!  And be nice to your insurance guy.  He does the best he can!

Alright, I'm going to put my rose colored glasses back on and go back to work.  I prefer to be an optimist.