Media intervention program for reducing unrealistic optimism bias: The link between unrealistic optimism, well‐being, and health (original) (raw)
Related papers
Implications of The Dimensionality of Unrealistic Optimism For The Study of Perceived Health Risks
Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 2001
To examine the dimensions of unrealistic optimism, 635 college students indicated their relative likelihood of experiencing 25 health problems commonly used in studies of unrealistic optimism. Factor analyses of these estimates yielded five correlated, but distinct factors, suggesting that unrealistic optimism is not a unidimensional construct. Two factors, Common and Mixed, were comprised of heterogeneous problems. The Common factor was comprised of problems similar to those frequently used in other studies, and these problems were also perceived as more likely to occur than problems comprising other factors. Three factors were comprised of problems in specific domains, (1) substance abuse, (2) sexuality, and (3) mental health. Participants' psychological well-being and dispositional optimism were negatively correlated with perceived risk of experiencing mental health problems, whereas these measures were unrelated to perceived risks for other types of problems. The present results suggest that results of studies on unrealistic optimism may vary considerably as a function of the specific health risks being examined. Contemporary research on well-being is informed by the realization that wellness is influenced by the decisions and choices people make regarding health-relevant behaviors. Although some individuals behave in ways that promote well-being, others behave in ways that put them at risk for negative health outcomes. A variety of researchers have suggested that individuals engage in risky behaviors in part because they underestimate the likelihood that they will experience health problems, and such underestimates have been referred to as unrealistic optimism (Weinstein, 1980). In studies of unrealistic optimism, people are typically asked to estimate the likelihood they will experience a certain negative event relative
Does Unrealistic Optimism Change Following a Negative Experience?1
Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 2001
One important counteracting force that may decrease the effects of unrealistic optimism is personal experience with threat. To examine this hypothesis, several groups were examined who had been exposed to valying degrees of threat. It was found that only those who had been exposed to the most severe threat (being hospitalized after a road accident) showed differential comparative risk estimates from those who had experienced no threat. Differences between these two groups were also found for their self-reported risk behavior. The generality of the debiasing effect was assessed by examining risk perceptions in other domains. It was found that the effect was domain specific.
Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 1987
A mailed questionnaire was used to obtain comparative risk judgments for 32 different hazards from a random sample of 296 individuals living in central New Jersey. The results demonstrate that an optimistic bias about susceptibility to harm-a tendency to claim that one is less at risk than one's peers-is not limited to any particular age, sex, educational, or occupational group. It was found that an optimistic bias is often introduced when people extrapolate from their past experience to estimate their future vulnerability. Thus, the hazards most likely to elicit unrealistic optimism are those associated with the belief(often incorrect) that if the problem has not yet appeared, it is unlikely to occur in the future. Optimistic biases also increase with the perceived preventability of a hazard and decrease with perceived frequency and personal experience. Other data presented illustrate the inconsistent relationships between personal risk judgments and objective risk factors.
Unrealistic optimism: Present and future
Journal of Social and Clinical …, 1996
People tend to believe that they are better than others. This claim is firmly supported by the large body of research that has investigated "self-serv ing" or "self-enhanc ing" biases (e.g., Brown, 1986; Goethals, Messick, & Allison, 1991; Hoorens, 1993). in many situations these biases appear to have no negative consequence s and may even be beneficial (e.g., Taylor, 1989; Taylor & Brown, 1988). For example, to believe incorrectly that one is more generous, more trustworthy, or more understandin g are com forting and innocuous self-perceptio ns. It takes some effort to think of situations in which these beliefs would lead to harmful consequence s.
Assessing the consequences of unrealistic optimism: Challenges and recommendations
Consciousness and Cognition, 2017
Of the hundreds of studies published on unrealistic optimism (i.e., expecting a better personal future than is reasonably likely), most have focused on demonstrating the phenomenon, examining boundary conditions, or documenting causes. Few studies have examined the consequences of unrealistic optimism. In this article, we provide an overview of the measurement of unrealistic optimism, review possible consequences, and identify numerous challenges confronting investigators attempting to understand the consequences. Assessing the consequences of unrealistic optimism is tricky, and ultimately probably impossible when researchers assess unrealistic optimism at the group level (which reveals if a group of people is displaying unrealistic optimism on average) rather than the individual level (which reveals whether a specific individual displays unrealistic optimism). We offer recommendations to researchers who wish to examine the consequences of unrealistic optimism.
Optimism and Its Impact on Mental and Physical Well-Being
2010
Many studies have been carried out about the effectiveness of optimism as a psychological phenomenon, leading to various theoretical formulations of the same concept, conceptualized as “disposition”, “attributional style”, “cognitive bias”, or “shared illusion”. This overview is an attempt to explore the “optimism” concept and its relations with mental health, physical health, coping, quality of life and adaptation of purpose, health lifestyle and risk perception. Positive and negative expectations regarding the future are important for understanding the vulnerability to mental disorders, in particular mood and anxiety disorders, as well as to physical illness. A significant positive relation emerges between optimism and coping strategies focused on social support and emphasis on positive aspects of stressful situations. Through employment of specific coping strategies, optimism exerts an indirect influence also on the quality of life. There is evidence that optimistic people presen...
2016
Recently, media research has focused on young people to determine what effect violent media images may have on aggressive behavior, but little research has investigated the kind of psychological distress similar images may cause. What emotional impact does increased exposure to negative and even violent news coverage have on young adults? In this study, the relationship between such news media and anxiety levels is examined, as well as the possible mediating role that an optimistic life orientation may play in that relationship. It is hypothesized that the degree to which these individuals follow news media will positively correlate with their state anxiety levels, but when accounting for an optimistic worldview, this effect will be minimized or eliminated. A survey was administered to a sample of 278 undergraduate students attending Bryant University that measured their anxiety levels, life orientation in terms of optimism, and news media viewing habits. The results showed no significant correlation between news media viewing and state anxiety, and therefore also could not support any mediating role of optimism either. Limitations and mitigating factors regarding this study as well as possible avenues for future research are discussed.
PLOS ONE
Numerous studies on unrealistic optimism (UO) have shown that people claim they are less exposed to COVID-19 infection than others. Yet, it has not been assessed if this bias evolves; does it escalate or diminish when the information about the threat changes? The present paper fills this gap. For 12 months 120 participants estimated their own and their peers’ risk of COVID-19 infection. Results show that UO regarding COVID-19 infection is an enduring phenomenon–It was the dominant tendency throughout almost the entire study and was never substituted by Unrealistic Pessimism. While the presence of UO-bias was constant, its magnitude changed. We tested possible predictors of these changes: the daily new cases/deaths, the changes in governmental restrictions and the mobility of participants’ community. Out of these predictors, only changes in governmental restrictions proved to be significant- when the restrictions tightened, UO increased.
Taking Stock of Unrealistic Optimism
Perspectives on Psychological Science, 2013
Researchers have used terms such as unrealistic optimism and optimistic bias to refer to concepts that are similar but not synonymous. Drawing from 3 decades of research, we discuss critically how researchers define unrealistic optimism, and we identify four types that reflect different measurement approaches: unrealistic absolute optimism at the individual and group levels and unrealistic comparative optimism at the individual and group levels. In addition, we discuss methodological criticisms leveled against research on unrealistic optimism and note that the criticisms are primarily relevant to only one type: the group form of unrealistic comparative optimism. We further clarify how the criticisms are not nearly as problematic as they might seem, even for unrealistic comparative optimism. Finally, we note boundary conditions on the different types of unrealistic optimism and reflect on five broad questions that deserve further attention.
Factor structure of Unrealistic optimism Dr. Lokesh Gupta Research Associate (RA), DIPR, DRDO, Delhi
Unrealistic optimism" or "Optimistic bias" has similar meaning. Each term suggests that people are realistic in their judgment about the average person, but are unrealistic, biased regarding their personal judgments. They refer to an underestimation of the likelihood (or probability) of experiencing a negative event. In present study a tool was constructed of 8 items for the measurement of unrealistic optimism. The sample of 103 young adult was collected from Rohtak(Haryana) and Delhi on the bases of availability. A correlational design was used. Factor analysis was done to identify the factor structure of unrealistic optimism. Hence, the measure suggests two facets of unrealistic optimism: Unrealistic optimistic for upcoming future and Comparative optimistic.