unrealistic optimism definition psychology

#Unrealistic optimism definition psychology free

Experiments by Gregory, Cialdini & Carpenter (1982) demonstrated that interventions which increased the perceived likelihood of events also increased positive attitudes towards that event.

The implications of unrealistic optimism are relatively unexplored and in the study reported here the relationship between unrealistic optimism about avoiding mental illness and attitudes towards mental illness was examined.

#Unrealistic optimism definition psychology free

British Journal of Clinical Psychology Wiley Ġ 1989 The British Psychological Society Unrealistic optimism and attitudes towards mental health Juliet Mahatane and Marie Johnston* Pyhology Unit, Royal Free Hospital School o Medicine, Pond Street, London NW3 9QC, UK f Weinstein (1980, 1982) has found evidence of unrealistic optimism (perceiving the risk to be lower than it is) about the risk of contracting various illnesses, including mental illness, and has proposed various possible explanations. Subjects in the current study were required to participate in studies the subjective probability of events (such as having cable televison) was increased in subjects who were asked to imagine the event having occurred. It was therefore hypothesized that perceiving mental illness to be more likely would also lead to more favourable attitudes towards mental illness, and thus that unrealistic optimism about mental illness might contribute to negative attitudes. Unrealistic optimism and attitudes towards mental health Unrealistic optimism and attitudes towards mental healthĠ 1989 The British Psychological Society Unrealistic optimism and attitudes towards mental health Juliet Mahatane and Marie Johnston* Pyhology Unit, Royal Free Hospital School o Medicine, Pond Street, London NW3 9QC, UK f Weinstein (1980, 1982) has found evidence of unrealistic optimism (perceiving the risk to be lower than it is) about the risk of contracting various illnesses, including mental illness, and has proposed various possible explanations.