Can self-protective behaviors increase unrealistic optimism? Evidence from the COVID-19 pandemic

Yan Vieites1, Guilherme A Ramos1, Eduardo B Andrade1

  • 1Brazilian School of Public and Business Administration (EBAPE).

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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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