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Unrealistic optimism bias is the tendency to overestimate the likelihood of positive outcomes. This cognitive bias makes individuals believe they are less likely to experience failures, setbacks, or risks and more likely to succeed than others. For example, people may assume they are less prone to health issues, accidents, or financial struggles than their peers, even when they share similar risk factors.One key component of this bias is the above-average effect, where individuals perceive...
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Dispositional optimism.

Charles S Carver1, Michael F Scheier2

  • 1University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA.

Trends in Cognitive Sciences
|March 18, 2014
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Optimism, a positive outlook on future outcomes, enhances motivation and effort. This trait is linked to better psychological and physical health, improved social connections, and has a biological basis.

Keywords:
copingexpectancieshealthmotivationoptimismpessimism

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Health Psychology
  • Social Psychology

Background:

  • Optimism is a cognitive construct involving expectancies about future outcomes.
  • Early research focused on optimism's links to psychological and physical health.
  • Recent studies explore optimism's role in social relations and its biological underpinnings.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the multifaceted benefits of optimism for individuals.
  • To synthesize current understanding of the biological basis of optimism.
  • To examine optimism's impact on health behaviors, physiological coping, and social connections.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review synthesizing existing research on optimism.
  • Analysis of studies examining optimism's effects on health, behavior, and social interactions.
  • Exploration of evidence regarding the biological correlates of optimism.

Main Results:

  • Optimism is associated with better psychological and physical health outcomes.
  • Optimistic individuals exhibit enhanced motivation and effort, unlike pessimistic individuals.
  • Optimists tend to have stronger social connections, partly due to increased effort in relationships.
  • Optimism influences health-promoting behaviors and physiological responses to stress.

Conclusions:

  • Optimism confers significant benefits across psychological, physical, and social domains.
  • Understanding the biological basis of optimism is crucial for further research.
  • Interventions promoting optimism may enhance overall well-being and health outcomes.