Name: The optimism bias
Uploaded: 2012-05-14T15:10:53Z
Duration: 17 min 23 s
Description: Are we born to be optimistic, rather than realistic? Tali Sharot shares new research that suggests our brains are wired to look on the bright side -- and how that can be both dangerous and beneficial.

Unrealistic optimism about future life events

*The Optimism Bias*

When every relationship is above average

Evaluations of self and others: Self-enhancement biases in social judgments

Human development of the ability to learn from bad news

 Optimism and pessimism in elementary school-aged children

Optimistic update bias increases in older age

Cultural Influences on Optimism and Pessimism: Differences in Western and Eastern Construals of the Self

Barry Schwartz: The paradox of choice

Emotional reactions to achievement outcomes: Is it really best to expect the worst?

*Choice over Time*

Time-perspective and feeling-tone: A study in the perception of the days

Depression is related to an absence of optimistically biased belief updating about future life events

Depressive symptoms are associated with unrealistic negative predictions of future life events

Psychological resources, positive illusions and health

Dispositional optimism and physical well-being: The influence of generalized outcome expectancies on health

Dispositional optimism and recovery from coronary artery bypass surgery

Great expectations: Optimism and pessimism in achievement settings

How unrealistic optimism is maintained in the face of reality

Selectively altering belief formation in the human brain

Optimism and economic choice

Are we born to be optimistic, rather than realistic? Tali Sharot shares new research that suggests our brains are wired to look on the bright side -- and how that can be both dangerous and beneficial.

The optimism bias

Most people believe they are less likely than others to face misfortune and more likely to succeed, a phenomenon that persists across cultures and ages. Despite knowing the odds—like a 40 percent divorce rate—newlyweds routinely rate their own risk at zero. This innate optimism boosts happiness, anticipation, and even health, but it can also lead to risky decisions and poor planning. Recognizing this bias allows people to harness optimism’s benefits while guarding against its pitfalls.