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Counteracting obstacles with optimistic predictions.

Ying Zhang1, Ayelet Fishbach

  • 1McCombs School of Business, University of Texas at Austin, USA. ying.zhang@mccombs.utexas.edu

Journal of Experimental Psychology. General
|February 4, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Counteractive optimism is a self-control strategy where optimistic predictions help overcome obstacles in goal pursuit. Focusing on accuracy, however, can hinder this process.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Social Psychology
  • Self-Control

Background:

  • Goal pursuit often involves anticipated obstacles.
  • Self-control strategies are crucial for successful goal attainment.
  • Optimism's role in overcoming challenges requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To test the counteractive optimism model.
  • To examine how optimistic predictions influence goal pursuit despite obstacles.
  • To investigate the effect of prediction accuracy on counteractive optimism.

Main Methods:

  • Five studies were conducted to test the counteractive optimism model.
  • Participants anticipated varying levels of obstacles in goal pursuit.
  • Predictions of performance, time investment, and health risks were measured.

Main Results:

  • Anticipating high obstacles led to more optimistic predictions of performance, time investment, and lower health risks.
  • These optimistic predictions motivated greater goal pursuit.
  • Emphasizing prediction accuracy reversed these effects and negatively impacted obstacle management.

Conclusions:

  • Counteractive optimism serves as an effective self-control strategy for goal attainment.
  • The benefits of counteractive optimism are contingent on the focus of predictions.
  • Accuracy-focused predictions may undermine the motivational benefits of optimism in challenging situations.