What Is the Optimism Bias?
Your brain has a built-in optimism bias.
But by definition, we can’t all be above average.
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The optimism bias was first described by a psychologist named Neil Weinstein in 1980.
It can lead to poordecision-making, which may have disastrous results.
If we expect good things to happen to us, we are more likely to be happy.
In a2012 TED Talk, Sharot explained that this optimism can act as a self-fulfilling prophecy.
By believing that they will be successful, people are, in fact, more likely to succeed.
Optimism enhances well-being by creating a sense of anticipation about the future.
Being optimistic also motivates us to pursue our goals.
Causes of the Optimism Bias
Why are we so geared toward optimism?
When we evaluate our risks, we compare our situation to others.
We’re also highly motivated to be optimistic.
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