PSY DEAN People learn much more from success than failure, new research finds. Contrary to popular wisdom — that failure is a learning opportunity — people learn little from failure and most from getting it right. Although society celebrates failure as a ‘teachable moment’, this research revealed that, in reality, people ignore their mistakes. The reason people learn nothing from failure is that it hits their self-esteem, so they tune it out. However, people can learn from the failures of others, if not their own, further experiments revealed.

People learn much more from success than failure, new research finds.

Contrary to popular wisdom — that failure is a learning opportunity — people learn little from failure and most from getting it right.

Although society celebrates failure as a ‘teachable moment’, this research revealed that, in reality, people ignore their mistakes.

The reason people learn nothing from failure is that it hits their self-esteem, so they tune it out.

However, people can learn from the failures of others, if not their own, further experiments revealed.