Jefferson A, Bortolotti L, Kuzmanovic B. What is unrealistic optimism?
Conscious Cogn 2016;
50:3-11. [PMID:
27815016 PMCID:
PMC5380125 DOI:
10.1016/j.concog.2016.10.005]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2016] [Revised: 10/05/2016] [Accepted: 10/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Here we consider the nature of unrealistic optimism and other related positive illusions. We are interested in whether cognitive states that are unrealistically optimistic are belief states, whether they are false, and whether they are epistemically irrational. We also ask to what extent unrealistically optimistic cognitive states are fixed. Based on the classic and recent empirical literature on unrealistic optimism, we offer some preliminary answers to these questions, thereby laying the foundations for answering further questions about unrealistic optimism, such as whether it has biological, psychological, or epistemic benefits.
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